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.

Donald Trump has been mocked online after a smaller-than-expected crowd showed up for his military birthday parade Saturday. Numbers were bolstered by significant protests during the celebration on his birthday.

It's among the starkest examples yet of President Donald Trump flexing his role as commander-in-chief since taking office.