Covering the military parade and a No Kings rally on the same day

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Covering the Military Parade and No Kings Rally on the Same Day

Episode Release Date: June 21, 2025

In this insightful episode of NPR's Consider This, host Andrew Limbong engages with seasoned NPR correspondent Frank Langfit to explore a unique journalistic experience: covering two contrasting events—the military parade in Washington, D.C., and the No Kings protest in Annapolis, Maryland—both occurring on the same day. This dual coverage provided Frank with a profound perspective on the current state of American society, revealing underlying commonalities amidst apparent divisions.

A Day of Contrasts: Military Parade vs. No Kings Protest

Frank Langfit, known for his extensive international reporting, found himself navigating a "split screen moment" in his own country. The military parade showcased tanks and armored personnel carriers in front of the White House, a traditional display of national pride and military might. In stark contrast, the No Kings rally represented a grassroots movement opposing the perceived politicization of the armed forces and warning against authoritarian leadership.

Frank Langfit described his experience, saying, “[...] covering the two events last week on the same day gave him the same feeling he felt covering other countries” (00:00).

Restraint and Common Ground

One of the most striking observations Frank made was the mutual restraint exhibited by participants on both sides of the events. Despite initial fears of potential violence, both the parade attendees and protestors maintained a peaceful demeanor.

Frank Langfit emphasized this point: “Both sides showed something that I think is kind of in short supply these days in the country, and that’s restraint” (03:17).

A poignant example of this restraint is illustrated through Peter Salinger, a 22-year-old attendee at the parade who simultaneously protested against it. Salinger expressed his disapproval of military parades:

Peter Salinger: “I don’t think it’s American to have a military parade. It costs millions of dollars on a president’s birthday” (04:10).

Despite his opposition, Salinger approached his protest with a thoughtful demeanor. He wore an American flag bandana, signaling his patriotism, and engaged respectfully with others. When confronted by an angry individual, Salinger calmly asserted his right to free speech, leading to a surprising moment of understanding:

Peter Salinger: “Sort of said, you know, I’m just here exercising my rights to free speech. [...] I work in finance” (05:03).

Frank Langfit reflected on this interaction, highlighting the unexpected commonality: “The fact of the matter is, this is a country where people on either side kind of demonize each other. And then when they actually see each other and they talk, there is more in common than they imagine” (06:09).

Military Parade: A Different Experience

Comparing the recent military parade to those he has witnessed internationally, Frank noted a significant departure from the intimidating displays seen in countries like China and North Korea. Unlike the forced marches and missile showcases he covered in Beijing in 1999, the U.S. parade was more celebratory and less aggressive:

Frank Langfit: “The troops were not marching. [...] It was a lot more like a pep rally” (06:46).

This portrayal challenges critics who feared the parade would project authoritarianism, instead presenting it as a grassroots celebration of the armed forces.

No Kings Rally: A Focused Protest

In Annapolis, the No Kings rally was predominantly white and centered around opposition to what attendees perceived as authoritarian tendencies in the administration. The protest lacked visible pro-Trump supporters, focusing instead on broader concerns about the politicization of the military.

Frank Langfit observed: “Nearly everybody there was focused on what they see as authoritarianism. In the speeches, though, there wasn’t a lot about exactly how to go about doing that” (06:31).

Demographic and Emotional Landscapes

Frank highlighted the contrasting demographics and atmospheres of the two events. The No Kings rally in Annapolis was situated in a well-to-do, predominantly white area with attendees deeply concerned about political authoritarianism. Conversely, the military parade in Washington, D.C., was more ethnically diverse, reflecting the active military's composition, and carried a more celebratory and inclusive vibe.

Frank Langfit shared his feelings: “I felt kind of like a foreign correspondent in my own homeland” (09:05).

He recounted an interview with a Marine from El Salvador and his Ecuadorian wife, who supported Trump’s immigration policies but feared social media backlash, underscoring the complex and personal dimensions of political stances.

Towards Understanding and Dialogue

The overarching takeaway from Frank's coverage was the potential for understanding and dialogue even amidst deep national divisions. The respectful interactions he witnessed suggest that face-to-face conversations can bridge ideological gaps.

Peter Salinger encapsulated this sentiment: “I think being face to face with people in some ways felt de escalatory. [...] That’s the real type of, like, face to face interaction that we need to be having” (08:17).

Frank Langfit concluded that such interactions, although rare in a bitterly divided nation, are essential for fostering mutual respect and reducing political violence.

Conclusion

Frank Langfit's dual coverage of the military parade and No Kings rally offers a microcosm of America's current socio-political landscape. Through his lens, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the country's divisions and the subtle threads of commonality that exist beneath the surface. This episode highlights the importance of restraint, respectful dialogue, and the recognition of shared values in navigating a polarized society.

Notable Quotes:

• Frank Langfit: “Both sides showed something that I think is kind of in short supply these days in the country, and that’s restraint” (03:17).
• Peter Salinger: “I don’t think it’s American to have a military parade. It costs millions of dollars on a president’s birthday” (04:10).
• Frank Langfit: “This country is bitterly divided. Political violence we're seeing is becoming more common” (08:46).
• Peter Salinger: “I think being face to face with people in some ways felt de escalatory” (08:17).
• Frank Langfit: “I felt kind of like a foreign correspondent in my own homeland” (09:05).

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Frank Langfit’s reporting, providing listeners with a clear and engaging overview of the events and their broader implications for American society.

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Produced by Michelle Aslam. Edited by Sarah Robbins and Katherine Laidlaw. Executive Producer: Sami Yenigun.

Transcript

[Andrew Limbong]

My colleague Frank Langfit has covered the world. He was in Ukraine when Russia invaded in February of 2022. He was NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi and covered the civil war in Somalia. He drove a free taxi around Shanghai for a series on a changing China as seen through the eyes of everyday people and wrote a book about it. Now he reports for NPR as a roving correspondent traveling the country focusing on stories that help us understand a changing America. Last weekend he covered both the military parade that brought tanks and armored personnel carriers rolling through the nation's capital, as well as the no Kings protests where people in dozens of cities across the country rallied against the politicization of the armed forces by someone they called a would be autocrat. It was a bit of a split screen moment for America and for Frank. See, covering the two events last week on the same day gave him the same feeling he felt covering other countries.

[Frank Langfit]

I felt kind of like a foreign correspondent in my own homeland.

[Andrew Limbong]

Consider this. You could look at that day as an example of a divided America, a moment where our differences were placed in pretty stark relief. But maybe being in both places on the same day, you see something different. Today for our weekly Reporter's Notebook series, Frank Langfit tells us about the people he met at the two events and the surprising thing he found. From npr, I'm Andrew Limbong.

[Michelle Aslam]

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[Andrew Limbong]

It'S consider this from NPR. To understand last week's split screen moment and how the 33 mile trip from one protest in Annapolis to the parade grandstand in front of the White House was like a journey between two different countries. We've called up NPR's Frank Langfit.

[Frank Langfit]

Hey, Andrew.

[Andrew Limbong]

All right, so what are some of the things that strike you as you think back, about how you set out to cover both of these events?

[Frank Langfit]

Yeah, well, you know, one of the things leading into the parade and the protest, you remember there was concern, a fair bit of concern about violence here at npr. We were even having conversations about safety for some of us who are going to go out and cover the day's events. But in the end, Andrew, both sides showed something that I think is kind of in short supply these days in the country, and that's restraint. You know, the people who organized no Kings, those protests against Trump decided not to rally in D.C. they knew that it could be misconstrued as a protest against the army and could have led to clashes. And the people who attended the parade, from what I saw, they were also. Let me give you an example. I met a guy named Peter Salinger. He's 22. He went to the military parade, but he went there to protest it. And so he was sitting on the lawn near the Washington Monument. He's holding this no King sign. And this is what he first told me when we talked.

[Peter Salinger]

I don't think it's American to have a military parade. It costs millions of dollars on a president's birthday.

[Frank Langfit]

Well, why do you think it's un American?

[Peter Salinger]

I don't think we celebrate our presidents by marching through streets and goose stepping.

[Andrew Limbong]

Did people largely leave him alone?

[Frank Langfit]

They did. Salinger also was savvy about it, Andrew. He wore this American flag bandana around his head, signaling his own patriotism. And afterwards, I was kind of curious to hear how the rest of the day went. So I called him and he said there was a guy who hovered nearby, kind of like a guardian angel looking after him. There were other people who gave him fist bumps. He did get some snide comments. And then Salinger shared this really interesting exchange he had. One guy comes up to him kind of pretty hot and angry, demanding to know who had paid Salinger to come to the protest. And this is how Salinger described it.

[Peter Salinger]

Sort of said, you know, I'm just here exercising my rights to free speech. He understood that. He understood when I said that it was my right as an American to be there. I think that maybe appealed to some of his politics. And then he really settled down when I said that I worked in finance, and he said, oh, you know, my son works in finance.

[Andrew Limbong]

All right, well, that's kind of funny that they both found some. Some common bond in finance. Did that symbolize anything to you? Was that an example of I don't want to be like Pollyanna, but like a sort of, you know, commonality between Americans?

[Frank Langfit]

I think, And I agree 100%, Andrew, not to be a Pollyanna about this at all, but the fact of the matter is, this is a country where people on either side kind of demonize each other. And then when they actually see each other and they talk, there is more in common than they imagine. And people are not the people. The people on the other side are not necessarily exactly what they expect, which is what you saw here with finance. I mean, this guy clearly did not expect that a protester with a no King sign was in the business of. Was. Was a hardcore capitalist in the interest, you know, in the business of making money.

[Andrew Limbong]

So you also went to a no Kings protest in Annapolis, the capital of Maryland. Were there any pro Trump protesters?

[Frank Langfit]

Not that I saw. You know, I walked through the crowd, I photographed lots of signs. Not a single pro Trump sign. Nearly everybody there was focused on what they see as authoritarianism. In the speeches, though, there wasn't a lot about exactly how to go about doing that.

[Andrew Limbong]

Yeah, you know, I want to go back to the military parade for a second. I know you as an international correspondent, right? Globetrotting all over the place. How do you think the military parade compares to other such events that you've covered?

[Frank Langfit]

What was really interesting is, before this, you would remember there was all this criticism that this parade was going to look like something you'd see in China or North Korea. And you heard that from Peter Salinger. He talked about goose stepping. I covered one in 1999 in Beijing. There was goose stepping. There was missiles. It was really in your face. And it wasn't just to sort of intimidate foreign powers. It was also a message to the people of China. This was just 10 years after Tiananmen, and it was, don't mess with us. This parade was not really like that at all. You know, the troops were not marching. Some people complained that they were kind of shuffling. And so I think that the parade itself was not what critics feared and not what Salinger expected at one point. It was, frankly, a lot more like a pep rally, like soldiers were driving tanks. They were waving, pumping their fists, revving the engines for the crowd. So I gotta say, that's why it's so good as, you know, as a reporter to go to these things. It really. It didn't come off the way A lot of people were concerned that it might.

[Andrew Limbong]

Yeah. So what's your big takeaway from both of these events?

[Frank Langfit]

I want to come back to this word, and that's restraint. You know, Salinger came to protest, but he was careful to make his point quietly. Most of the parade goers that I saw, they were really focusing on celebrating the army, not really making it political or cheering on President Trump. And I mean, as far as I saw, only a small percentage were actually wearing any MAGA gear. Now, Salinger was concerned that showing up could be provocative, but in the end, he kind of found the opposite. This is. This is what he thought.

[Peter Salinger]

I think being face to face with people in some ways felt de escalatory. When you're just standing next to someone, it's really hard to come up and antagonize them, to get in a fight with them like that is. That's not an easy thing to do. People don't want to do it, and so they revert to wanting to have conversations and. And to some extent, understand your point of view. And that's the real type of, like, face to face interaction that we need to be having.

[Frank Langfit]

I mean, obviously, this country is bitterly divided. Political violence we're seeing is becoming more common. And it was kind of good to see people like this guy Salinger willing to take risks and spend time with a lot of people with whom he disagrees.

[Andrew Limbong]

So before we let you go, Frank, were there any other things that struck you about these events?

[Frank Langfit]

I think it was. I felt kind of like a foreign correspondent in my own homeland. I felt like I was going between two different countries that see this nation radically different. And they're very different people. I mean, the no Kings rally was largely white. It was, as you were saying, it was in Annapolis. This is the. It's a well to do city, by and large. There were definitely people, military people in the audience because the Naval Academy is here. You go to the parade. It's very different. It's much more ethnically diverse, which is also very true of the active military. At no Kings. It was more fired up. It was a protest. Everybody was deeply concerned about what they see as an authoritarian administration. But it was really interesting. Andrew, when I asked to get everybody's full names, they gave them to me at the parade. It was a lot more subdued. People were warier. I had this great interview. I wish I could have it on tape. I with a Marine who's originally from El Salvador. His wife is from Ecuador. And they were talking about Trump's immigration policy, which they support. And they say, you know, they came here legally, millions have not. And they, they say, you know, countries have the right to enforce their immigration laws, but they didn't want to give their names. They were afraid of blowback on social media. And so unfortunately, I can't play you their tape.

[Peter Salinger]

All right.

[Andrew Limbong]

That was NPR's Frank Langfit, who has reported from what, like 50 countries from all over the world. Is that about right?

[Frank Langfit]

Something like that, yes.

[Andrew Limbong]

Oh, my goodness. All right. And here's Frank Langford. Frank, thank you so much.

[Frank Langfit]

Happy to do it, Andrew.

[Andrew Limbong]

This episode was produced by Michelle Aslam. It was edited by Sarah Robbins and Katherine Laidlaw. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's consider this from npr, I'm Andrew Limbaugh.

[Michelle Aslam]

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[Sami Yenigun]

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[Michelle Aslam]

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