Thousands converge on Alexandria ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump and Army parade; nearby DC is quiet
Thousands converged on downtown Alexandria, Virginia, to protest President Donald Trump and the parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, while security kept things under wraps across the river in the District of Columbia ahead of the parade. The loosely constructed “No Kings” movement, notably supported by Walmart heiress Chrissy Walton, planned to hold dozens of protests across the country. And, so far, the protest just out of sight of the White House appeared to be generating a lot of interest. Reports of crowds from 1,000 to 5,000 people, assembled in Market Square in Alexandria, Virginia, to protest the idea that Trump would hold a military parade on what is also his 79th birthday, according to X accounts. Independent Women’s Forum official Julie Gunlock shared an accounting of events Saturday, posting a collage on X that featured people waving signs that said “I like my ICE crushed,” “King of Farts” and “Happy Obama Appreciation Day.” WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY’S ‘NO KINGS’ ANTI-TRUMP RALLIES ACROSS THE US Another X snippet showed a growing crowd in Market Square as the closing bars of the “Star-Spangled Banner” played from a boombox. One protester noted that Alexandria, Virginia, is where Vice President JD Vance’s recent private residence was. With US Highway 1 divided into the major north-south streets “Patrick” and “Henry” through downtown and its history as the closest city to George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate, references made online described how Alexandria was a fitting place to oppose a supposed king. GOVERNORS WARN ANTI-TRUMP ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTERS AGAINST BECOMING VIOLENT: ‘YOU’RE GOING TO GET ARRESTED’ Accounts described the crowd as largely “elderly” while others contended there were attendees of all ages. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned potential troublemakers statewide Friday he had “integrated” the Virginia National Guard with the Virginia State Police to protect life, property and egress on the Commonwealth’s roadways. “We cannot allow people to put people’s lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines,” Youngkin told reporters. “And so, if you break the law, you’re going to get arrested,” he said. “I will protect everybody’s constitutional right, but if you break the law, you’re going to get arrested.” Protests also cropped up Saturday afternoon in Hampton Roads, Virginia, as Trump’s parade took shape just across the Potomac River from another counterprotest scheduled in the wealthy liberal enclave of Falls Church, Virginia. The co-organizer of the Norfolk, Virginia, “No Kings” protest said of Trump, “This is not his kingdom. We are not his subjects,” in comments to The Virginian-Pilot. “This isn’t about politics. This is about honor,” another demonstrator told the paper. ‘CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In Washington, thousands also converged ahead of the parade, wearing patriotic or pro-Trump gear and MAGA hats. Paradegoers who spoke to Fox News Digital overwhelmingly reported that they did not expect violence in Washington Saturday, citing the tight security. “There’s security everywhere,” one paradegoer said. “I would say, you know, it’s a big event with everything that’s been going on. “I haven’t seen many protesters, but I’ve seen a couple of signs.” Another attendee in Washington said the event felt “family-oriented” and safe. Security Saturday included the Secret Service, police officers and military members stationed along entry checkpoints and walking among the throngs of paradegoers. Trump’s parade kicked off early, just before 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, with law enforcement vetting people attending with metal detectors and pat-downs. Streets surrounding historic spots near the parade route, like the White House and Washington Monument, were shut down and barricaded to bolster safety. Fox News Digital spotted a handful of protesters carrying signs denouncing Trump as a dictator and Black Lives Matter signs and other messages calling for equality, but crowds surrounding the entry points for the parade were primarily comprised of Trump supporters, veterans, families and others who came out for the patriotic parade. Officials from Walmart reportedly said advertisements from Walton are “in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart.”
Governors warn anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protesters against becoming violent: ‘You’re going to get arrested’
As President Donald Trump’s military parade kicks off in Washington to commemorate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army Saturday, governors in several states are also on high alert for violence at demonstrations opposing the parade and voicing anger at the contention it is a proxy to celebrate the president’s 79th birthday. A loose confederation of counterprotests, called “No Kings,” are expected to take place across the country in smaller cities, particularly in red states, like Shepherdstown, West Virginia; Valdosta, Georgia; and Austin, Texas. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Friday he was aware of several such demonstrations planned across the Mountain State. “I support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly, but West Virginia will uphold law and order,” Morrisey said in a statement. PROTESTERS EXPECTED TO CONVERGE ON DC, NEIGHBORING CITIES AHEAD OF TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE “We will not tolerate looting, destruction, vandalism or any violence toward law enforcement.” Protests are also expected in West Virginia’s Wheeling, Charleston and Martinsburg, and Morrisey added that the West Virginia State Police is at the ready to “quell any actions that cross the line.” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin warned potential troublemakers he has “integrated” the Virginia National Guard with the Virginia State Police to protect life, property and egress on the Commonwealth’s roadways. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TODAY’S ‘NO KINGS’ ANTI-TRUMP RALLIES ACROSS THE US “We cannot allow people to put people’s lives in jeopardy by disrupting traffic or anything along those lines,” Youngkin told reporters Friday. “And, so, if you break the law, you’re going to get arrested,” he added. “I will protect everybody’s constitutional right, but if you break the law, you’re going to get arrested.” As of Saturday afternoon, protests cropped up in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and beyond as Trump’s parade took shape just across the Potomac River from another counterprotest scheduled in Falls Church, Virginia. The co-organizer of Norfolk’s “No Kings” protest said of Trump, “This is not his kingdom. We are not his subjects,” in comments to The Virginian-Pilot. “This isn’t about politics. This is about honor,” another demonstrator told the paper. Virginia also was one of five states Axios reported to have the most sizable ICE-related illegal immigrant arrests and related law enforcement activity in recent weeks. A protest made its way down Broad Street in the capital of Richmond, Virginia, earlier this week opposing that condition. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement he was aware of and prepared for protests in the Peach State. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “My office … stands ready to take whatever appropriate action is needed to safeguard our communities from crime and violence while also respecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly,” Kemp said. “My support for public safety officers and the rule of law is unwavering, and any violence against those who protect and serve will be met with quick and heavy accountability.” In Pennsylvania, a sizable “No Kings” protest materialized at Love Park in Center City Philadelphia. Protesters later moved on to the Art Museum, made famous by Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky.” Gov. Josh Shapiro told KYW-3 he and Philadelphia Democratic Mayor Cherelle Parker have been in contact in a city known for civilian mayhem after its sports teams compete in championships. “We’ll make sure it’s a peaceful day here in Philadelphia,” Shapiro said, openly asking protesters to do so peacefully. “Violence is not an answer … and is not going to be permitted,” the potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful said. By 1 p.m. Central Time Saturday, a protest in Chicago drew thousands of demonstrators, including 83-year-old Rev. Jesse Jackson being pushed in a wheelchair at the front of the procession. Boycott threats were made against Walmart after Chrissy Walton, a daughter-in-law of its founder, publicly promoted the “No Kings” protests. The company distanced itself, saying it does not endorse the protests nor does Walton serve in any managerial capacity. Fox News’ Ruth Ravve Greenfield contributed to this report.
Senate GOPs carefully weighing controversial tax provisions before bringing Big, Beautiful Bill to the floor
Fox has learned that it is doubtful that Senate Republicans will put the Big, Beautiful Bill on the floor for debate and a vote next week. That likely waits until the week of June 22. This potentially jeopardizes final passage of the measure through the Senate AND House by July 4. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release its text of the bill as early as Monday. That section of the legislation is the most expansive and probably most controversial. Key tax provisions like SALT (state and local tax reductions), potential spending cuts and changes to Medicare/Medicaid all appear in this section of the legislation. ABOUT 60 PEOPLE ARRESTED AFTER VETERANS’ ANTI-ICE DEMONSTRATION IN WASHINGTON, DC, POLICE SAY Senators and Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough will then begin a process of weeding out provisions which do not comport with strict Senate Budget provisions. That’s why the plan probably isn’t ready for debate and a “vote-a-rama” until the week after next. If the Senate advances the bill, the House will have a tight window to either accept the Senate changes and greenlight the bill before July 4 – or bounce it back to the Senate with yet ANOTHER set of changes. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: GOP LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO SLASH $9.1B FROM USAID, NPR, AND PBS IN RARE VOTE Such a scenario would most certainly stretch out the process beyond the July 4 deadline. It would also compel the Senate to take a 4th vote-a-rama in just a matter of months. That’s where the Senate votes for hours on end with one roll call after another.
Minnesota rep killed made headlines days earlier over vote on benefits for illegal aliens
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was fatally shot on Saturday with the suspect still at large, made headlines earlier this week for being the only Democratic vote in the state House to vote to repeal taxpayer-funded healthcare coverage for adult illegal immigrants. “I know that people will be hurt by that vote and I’m – we worked very hard to try and get a budget deal that wouldn’t include that provision,” she said following the vote that she said was done in order to move the budget forward in a split legislature, according to KTTC. Republicans hold the House 67-66, and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party holds the Senate 34-33. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot on Saturday and are hospitalized following surgery. Hortman’s husband also died in the shooting. All four victims are presumed to have been shot by the same suspect who pretended to be a police officer. MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS AND SPOUSES SHOT IN SEPARATE HOME ATTACKS According to Alpha News, Hoffman voted against the proposal but Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign it into law as part of the budget agreement. Four state senators also voted for the repeal. Although it’s believed to be politically motivated, the specific motive is unclear as of Saturday afternoon. Minnesota State Patrol posted a photo to X on Saturday showing “No Kings” signs in the suspect’s vehicle. “No Kings” is the name of the nationwide series of protests happening on Saturday in opposition to the Trump administration. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE “Given the targeted shootings of state lawmakers overnight, we are asking the public to not attend today’s planned demonstrations across Minnesota out of an abundance of caution,” MSP wrote. GOP LEADERSHIP UNLEASHES FURY ON DEM GOVERNOR AHEAD OF BLOCKBUSTER CONGRESSIONAL HEARING The tragedy led to an outpouring of messages from both sides of the aisle. “I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Saturday. “Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!” Hortman was formerly the state House speaker. ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ MECCA OF MINNEAPOLIS OVERRUN WITH VIOLENCE, ‘FAILED LEADERSHIP’: FORMER AG CANDIDATE “Our state lost a great leader,” Gov. Tim Walz said at a news conference following the shootings. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture, and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many Minnesotans,” the Democrat and former 2024 vice presidential nominee continued.
Israel strikes at the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions in Isfahan offensive
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hit the Isfahan nuclear site in Iran on Friday night, a location where uranium moves beyond enrichment to the “reconversion” process of building a nuclear bomb. “The strike dismantled a facility for producing metallic uranium, infrastructure for reconverting enriched uranium, laboratories, and additional infrastructure,” the IDF said on Friday. On Friday evening, video footage posted by Iranian media showed Iranian air defenses attempting to intercept a fresh wave of Israeli attacks on the site, adding it to a list of nuclear sites targeted that includes the key Natanz facility. HOW CLOSE WAS IRAN TO A NUCLEAR WEAPON BEFORE ISRAEL’S STRIKE ON TEHRAN? The IAEA has confirmed that a nuclear facility in Isfahan was struck by Israel. In a statement on X the IAEA posted that four critical buildings “were damaged in yesterday’s attack, including the Uranium Conversion Facility and the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant. As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation expected.” “Isfahan’s uranium conversion facility is at the heart of Iran’s quest for domestic fuel cycle mastery,” Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy’s Iran program, told Fox News Digital. At Isfahan, uranium is converted into a state suited for gaseous enrichment. “Crippling this capacity at Isfahan would disconnect the dots between Iran’s diverse nuclear industry and potentially handicap future efforts to prepare uranium for enrichment.” Direct bombing of a facility that stores nuclear fuel represents a major blow to Iran’s nuclear program – but also risks radioactive spills. Israel avoided hitting Iran’s supply of near-bomb-grade nuclear fuel at Isfahan, the New York Times reported. “All these developments are deeply concerning,” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement on the attacks. “I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, as it could harm both people and the environment.” Israel has now targeted over 200 sites in Iran in its move to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability. IAEA CHIEF CALLS ISRAELI PRESIDENT, REPORTEDLY SAYS IRAN NUCLEAR FACILITY WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED Iranian media reported on Saturday that Israel had struck near the northwestern Tabriz refinery, reporting three missile strikes in locations near western Iran. The Israeli military said that initial strikes had taken out nine nuclear scientists, in addition to top generals in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and dozens of others. Iran’s counter-strikes have killed three Israelis. Experts have long warned that Iran is weeks away from enriching uranium to a weapons-grade 90%, and Israeli intelligence sources suggest Iran had moved beyond enrichment into the early production phase of a nuclear weapon. The IAEA has warned of Iran’s “rapid accumulation of highly enriched uranium” and said the regime has been opaque about providing details on its use.
Trump celebrates US’ long history giving foreign enemies ‘hell’ at massive military parade
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s delivered remarks Saturday evening at a historic military parade honoring the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. “Every other country celebrates their victories,” he said. “It’s about time America did too — that’s what we’re doing tonight.” “As we celebrate tonight, we also think of the hundreds of thousands of Army soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation and selflessly laid down their lives in every war, from the revolution to the war on terror, to the Gold Star families with us today,” he said. TOP PHOTOS FROM TRUMP’S 250TH BIRTHDAY PARADE FOR THE US ARMY He called the Army’s most famous leader, Gen. George Washington, an “indomitable commander” and laid out many of the major American victories from the Revolution onward: Gettysburg, Guadalcanal, Shiloh, San Juan Hill, the Argonne trenches and the Afghan mountainsides. Through them “the Army has forged a legacy of unmatched courage, untold sacrifice, and unequaled and undying glory,” Trump said. He spoke of Gen. John Corse, a Union commander shot in the face at the Battle of Allatoona Pass near Cartersville, Georgia, who was shot in the face but did not relent from the front lines against the Confederates. “He fired off a message to his commander, ‘I am short a cheekbone and one ear, but I am able to whip the hell out of all of them’,” Trump recounted. He also cited Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who, like Corse, was a Pennsylvania native known for his military fortitude. Trump spoke of Wayne leading a midnight raid up the Palisades cliffs near Bear Mountain, New York, with only bayonets and no ammo to take on the British during the Revolution. Wayne took that order in stride, declaring to Washington: “Issue the order, sir, and I will storm into hell for you.” Trump spent the rest of the parade seated, or often standing and saluting the troops, flanked by first lady Melania Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Thousands of Americans, including veterans, youth and dads celebrating Father’s Day, flocked to downtown D.C. wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and patriotic gear displaying Old Glory despite the balmy weather and brewing thunderstorms. The crowds went wild with applause upon Trump’s arrival alongside first lady Melania Trump, an introduction accompanied by a gun salute as those in attendance chanted “U-S-A!” Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance also received widespread applause upon their introductions. Live music poured through the crowds ahead of the parade, as paradegoers swayed to the music while fanning themselves in the summer D.C. heat. The crowds were heard singing “Happy Birthday” and chanting “We love Trump” after the parade officially kicked off. HEADING TO TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW The parade stretched down Constitution Avenue, beginning near the Lincoln Memorial and concluding near the Washington Monument at about 9:30 p.m. The parade honors the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army, which was established one year before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and coincides with Flag Day and Trump’s 79th birthday. The patriotic event is part of Trump’s “Task Force 250,” which was established in January by an executive order and coordinates plans celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence July 4, 2026. The parade included the Army’s Golden Knights Parachute team conducting a jump overhead of the crowds, multiple flyovers, WWII Jeeps on display and members of the military waving to the crowds while riding in massive tanks chugging down Constitution Ave. Cheers of “USA” broke out as Vietnam War-era tanks drove by a large crowd of people, the majority of whom had their phones ready to record the historic scene. The parade, however, comes as riots and protests continue in Los Angeles over the Trump administration’s efforts to deport millions of illegal aliens who flooded the nation during the Biden administration and after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran Thursday evening. The parade faced stormy weather, with forecasters predicting thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and rain into the evening. Protests in response to the military parade and recent ICE raids being conducted in Los Angeles are unfolding in cities nationwide. In Washington, a Refuse Fascism protest, an “equity march” in downtown D.C. and a “Pro-Democracy Picnic” at Fort Reno Park were scheduled for Saturday, Fox News Digital previously reported. The security for the event has been incredibly tight, with Secret Service, police officers and military members stationed along entry checkpoints and walking among the throngs of people. Attendees were also required to go through metal detectors and undergo additional pat-downs to reach the parade route. “No Kings” protesters converged on cities nationwide to protest what they say is Trump leading the nation like a “king,” though there will not be a “No Kings” protests in D.C. proper Saturday. Instead, those protests were held in neighboring towns and cities, such as in the Virginia cities of Alexandria and Arlington. PROTESTERS EXPECTED TO CONVERGE ON DC, NEIGHBORING CITIES AHEAD OF TRUMP’S MILITARY PARADE Trump was asked about the “No Kings” protest during a Thursday bill-signing event at the White House. “I don’t feel like a king,” Trump responded. “I have to go through hell to get stuff approved. A king would say, ‘I’m not gonna get this.’ A king would have never had the California mandate to even be talking. He wouldn’t have to call up (Speaker) Mike Johnson and (Senate Majority Leader John) Thune and say, ‘Fellas you got to pull this off’ and after years we get it done,” he said, referring to three resolutions he signed Thursday ending electric vehicle mandates originating in California. “No, no we’re not a king. We’re not a king at all.” Trump previously said any potential violent protesters targeting the parade will be met with a “very heavy force.” TRUMP WARNS ANY POTENTIAL PROTESTORS AT HIS MILITARY PARADE WILL BE ‘MET WITH VERY BIG FORCE’ “If there’s any protest once they come out, they will be met with very big force,” Trump
Time for Israel to take out ‘head of the snake,’ target members of Iranian regime, says former IDF intel chief
Israel’s ongoing military campaign on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could mark not just a military escalation but a strategic shift, according to retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin. The former head of Israeli military intelligence and one of the architects behind the legendary 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor said Israel should expand its sights not just military targets, but political ones. “Israel took the decision that, on one hand, it’s time to end the leadership of the Axis of Evil — the head of the snake,” Yadlin told Fox News Digital. “At the same time, deal with the main problems there. Which is the nuclear.” Yadlin didn’t say how long he thought the conflict would drag on. While he didn’t openly call for regime change, Yadlin suggested the IDF take out regime targets “beyond the military level.” “It’s not a one-day operation. It seems more like a week, two weeks. But when you start a war, even if you start it very successfully, you never know when it is finished.” IRAN THREATENS TO HIT US BASES IN THE MIDDLE EAST: WHAT IS THE THREAT LEVEL? “I hope that the achievements of the IDF, which are degrading the Iranian air defense, degrading the Iranian missile, ballistic missile capabilities, drones capabilities, and maybe even some regime targets beyond the military level that Israel started with, will convince the Iranians that it is time to stop. And then they will come to negotiation with the Trump administration much weaker.” While Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially insisted it was not involved in the initial strikes on Tehran, President Donald Trump seemed to suggest he hoped Israel’s strikes would pressure a weaker Iran to acquiesce at the negotiating table. The two sides are at loggerheads over the U.S.’s insistence that Iran cannot have any capacity to enrich uranium and Iran’s insistence that it must have uranium for a civil nuclear program. “The military operation is aimed, in my view, to a political end, and the political end is an agreement with Iran that will block a possibility to go to the border,” Yadlin said. “We need a stronger agreement” than the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, he said. INSIDE ISRAEL’S SECRET WAR IN IRAN: MOSSAD COMMANDOS, HIDDEN DRONES AND THE STRIKE THAT STUNNED TEHRAN Yadlin, who in 1981 flew one of the F-16s that destroyed Iraq’s nuclear facility in a single-night operation, made clear that Israel’s latest campaign is far more complex. “This is not 1981,” he said. “Iran has learned. Their facilities are dispersed, buried in mountains, and protected by advanced air defenses. It’s not a one-night operation.” He added, “There are sites that I’m not sure can be destroyed.” He said the recent attack was the result of years of intelligence gathering – and brave Mossad agents on the ground in Iran. Israel lured top Iranian commanders into a bunker, where they coordinated a response to Israel’s attacks, then blew up the bunker. “All of the intelligence that Israel collected, from the time I was chief of intelligence 2005 to 2010, enabled this operation against the Iranian nuclear program to be very efficient, very much like the good intelligence enabled Israel to destroy Hezbollah. Unfortunately, the same intelligence agencies missed the seventh of October, 2023.” Indeed, Israel’s past preventive strikes — 1981’s Operation Opera and the 2007 airstrike on Syria’s suspected reactor — were rapid, surgical and designed to neutralize a singular target. In contrast, Yadlin suggested the current campaign could last weeks and involve broader goals. “It’s not a one-day operation. It seems more like a week, two weeks. But when you start a war, even if you start it very successfully, you never know when it is finished.” The operation is being framed by Israeli defense officials as a continuation of the Begin Doctrine, established after the 1981 Osirak strike, which declared that Israel would never allow a hostile regime in the region to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Yadlin himself is a symbol of that doctrine. As one of the eight pilots who flew into Iraq over four decades ago, he helped define Israel’s policy of preemptive action — a legacy that is now being tested again under radically different circumstances. “This campaign,” Yadlin emphasized, “is unlike anything the country has done before.”