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Chellie Pingree represents Maine’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Saturday, millions will gather in cities and towns across the country to make their voices heard in defense of democracy — and to protest the reckless actions of a president who I see as out of touch, out of his depth, and completely out of control.
I’m proud to stand with them.
The events of this past week have only heightened the sense of urgency. What’s happening in California should alarm every American. Innocent people are being grabbed off the street, from churches and schools and workplaces, only to be detained and sometimes deported with no due process.
As if that weren’t terrible enough, the president then usurped the authority of a sitting governor and sent in the National Guard — manufacturing chaos and stoking the flames of civil unrest.
For context, the last time a president bypassed a state’s governor to deploy the National Guard was in 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson called up troops to protect the civil rights of advocates marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
President Donald Trump further inflamed the situation in Los Angeles by sending in 700 U.S. Marines. Soldiers who have defended democracy around the world are now being used against their fellow Americans — all to serve the authoritarian impulses of a president abusing his power.
We know what “No Kings Day” is about: standing up to oppose what is happening in our country and saying loud and clear that our great nation will never go back to the days of tyranny. Nowhere is that chilling prospect more evident than it is in our nation’s capital, where tanks line the streets and our troops are forced to participate in a disturbing display of military pageantry.
For 250 years, America’s soldiers have played one of the most important roles in defending our democracy, protecting our freedoms, and fighting tyranny on behalf of the American people.
But this president has chosen to parade these steadfast warfighters — coincidentally on his birthday — and make a mockery of the Army’s 250 years of service and sacrifice. The once proud “Arsenal of Democracy” now will roll down Independence Avenue, imitating the very forces it was built to stand against.
Just this week, the Appropriations Committee started marking up House Republicans’ funding bills for the 2026 fiscal year, the first of which breaks promises to our veterans and compromises their access to health care.
For $45 million, the estimated cost of this weekend’s absurd parade, we could invest in programs that would help each of these servicemembers transition to the civilian world.
For the cost of moving and housing 2,000 troops from across the country, we could fund veterans housing.
For the cost of moving tanks from Texas to D.C., we could fund a Produce Prescription program, which would provide healthy fruits and vegetables to our veterans, one in nine of whom are food insecure.
For the cost of moving tanks back to Texas, we could fund assistance that’s being cut to veterans who want to open a small business.
We should be celebrating 250 years of courage, honor, and duty. Instead, Trump’s selfishness will overshadow all else.
To be sure, the Founders were far from perfect men. But all of them understood the danger of giving one elected leader too much power. All of them believed that democracy and demagoguery were incompatible.
That’s why they rebelled against the king in the first place — and why they created the checks and balances that have defined our system of government for centuries.
That system is now under attack. All of us — whatever our background or beliefs, no matter our party or politics — have a role to play in protecting it. For me, that means doing everything in my power to push back against this administration and hold them accountable.
For you, it means continuing to stand up, show up, link up, and speak up. It means sharing your stories, perspectives, and concerns. With your families and friends. With your communities. And yes, with your elected representatives!
It means speaking the truth — not only to power, but to the people in your lives whose minds can be changed. It means not giving in to cynicism or defeatism. It means pushing back against disinformation. Even when it’s coming from the people you love.
It means remembering that patriotism isn’t about flags and fireworks, or tanks rolling down the streets of Washington, D.C., or the whims of any one man who believes he should have total control.
It’s about fighting for the values and ideals that made this country great — and can, with enough time, effort, and energy, make it truly great again.
