On June 14, three events intersected. It was the birthday of the U.S. Army, but far more than a typical birthday it was the 250th. It was Flag Day, commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1775. And, coincidentally, it was also the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump. I say “coincidentally,” because the first two of these events were obviously of greater significance than Trump’s birthday, as, with his characteristic modesty, he’d certainly concede.

Not coincidentally, it was the day picked by a virulently anti-Trump, radically leftist group that goes by the childishly idiotic name of “No Kings.” (At first glance, I thought they hated Elvis Presley.) It recruited 175 like-minded outfits to join in a mass protest in “2,100 cities and towns” labeled the “No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance.” The roster included the ACLU, Democratic Socialists of America, the American Federation of Government Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, and even some communist groups. “NK” bragged it’s goal was to “upstage Trump’s self-coronation even by grabbing more of the attention.” Hardly a self-coronation, plans for celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday, started two years ago, before Trump’s election.

Attending or even watching the parade on TV with 7,000 troops marching in combat fatigues and other uniforms amid Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, motorized cannons, and warplanes flying overhead is the last thing this crowd would want to be. For most of them, patriotism is a dirty word. NK claimed 5 million people joined their protests. I’d rank their credibility on this estimate about as low as Hamas’ daily count of civilian casualties in Gaza.

But even if there were 5 million protesters, that would be a mere 1.4% of America’s 344 million population. That leaves quite a few who didn’t participate. On the other hand, my ballpark guesstimate of how many Americans on June 14 much preferred the celebration in Washington, the military parade, patriotic music and the fireworks. Counting active-duty military personnel, reservists, the national guard, military veterans of all the services, their families and friends, 77 million people who voted for Trump in 2024, the many millions of Americans who are thankful for our military, our police, our ICE and border patrol officers, patriots who still love our country, and even some Democrats, I’d put that number at more than 200 million.

As an Army vet, I had a lump in my throat watching that. Despite the petty whining of leftists, the Army deserved nothing less than a parade like this on its 250th birthday.

As for the recognition of Trump’s birthday being a “self-coronation” overshadowing the event, the gift of an American flag to him by a member of the Army’s Golden Knights paratroop team and some soldiers in front of the podium singing “Happy Birthday” all of 10 minutes. (A thinly clad Marilyn Monroe singing a sultry version of “Happy Birthday” to JFK on his 45th birthday in 1962 at a Democrat fundraiser in NYC’s Madison Square Garden had a different flavor. I doubt Melania would approve.)

Crowds in the Denver protest ironically waved Mexican, Palestinian and LGBTQ+ flags, which was not quite the intent of Flag Day. There were some American flags, but I suspect that was more for show than love of country for many of the anti-American protesters.

It’s an irrational contradiction when illegal immigrants who deserted Mexico to come here wave Mexican flags and burn American ones while they fight deportation to Mexico.

Predictably, this “mostly peaceful” protest ultimately turned unlawful and violent when some assaulted police, started fires, obstructed roadways and attempted to block I-25. Thirty-five arrests were made. The First Amendment protects your right to “peaceably” assemble and to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” These are not peaceful acts or petitions. No one has the right to break the law because they disagree with it.

As their protest moved theatrically to the Governor’s Mansion (where Jared and his spouse don’t reside) one leftist fool proclaimed that Polis is a just another of the “corrupt politicians who run this country.” As if the Democrat politicians who run Colorado aren’t leftist enough for him. Another speaker was cheered for advocating revolution, shouting “This is what democracy looks like.” No. Angry mobs, in general, that disturb the peace, assault the police, set fire to vehicles, obstruct immigration officers from doing their job, and incite revolution isn’t democracy, it’s mobocracy. Trump’s election was democracy.

Mike Rosen is a Denver-based American radio personality and political commentator.