Thousands turned out to enjoy festivities and a sprawling military parade in Washington, D.C., even as dismal weather forecasts and nationwide anti-Trump “No Kings” protests threatened to dampen the Army’s 250th birthday celebration.

Organisers said hundreds of demonstrations were held in a day of defiance to counter a huge military parade hosted by Trump.

Army's 250th anniversary celebrated with a military parade in Washington, D.C., on Trump's birthday. 'No Kings' protests by opponents are planned across the country.

The parade was the spectacle event Trump had long wanted. It also helped sparked the largest mass opposition to him since his inauguration 145 days earlier.

The parade, honoring the Army’s long-planned 250th anniversary celebration and coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial under the threat of stormy weather in Washington and protests around the country tied to a turbulent week of immigration enforcement that has involved military deployment in Los Angeles.

At a glance … The final round of the US Open, the PGA Tour’s third major, gets underway this morning at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Sam Burns has the overnight lead at 4-under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is tied for 11th.

Rallies are expected throughout metro Detroit and dozens of other cities in the state from Midland to Muskegon and Milan to Marquette.

At least one demonstration, about 70 miles from Washington, D.C., in Northern Virginia, was met with violence when a man intentionally drove an SUV through a crowd of departing protesters, striking at least one person,