"The King is Not Needed" - A Grand Parade Across 1,500 Locations in the U.S. with Balloons and Laughter

1. Prologue—"Laughter Over Parades"

On the afternoon of June 14, the National Mall in Washington D.C. was filled with military vehicles and reviewing stands. 1,000 kilometers to the west, in front of Los Angeles City Hall, another main attraction—a giant Baby Trump balloon in a diaper—floated with the slogan "NO KINGS."theverge.com

(Omitted: Background on the parade plan, military budget, and big tech donations as funding sources)

2. On-the-Ground Report from Los Angeles—The Intersection of Laughter and Pain

• The clown troupe "Imp and Circumstance"
  Twinkle Toes, with pink and white makeup, holds a placard reading "Trump come catch these hands foo!" She says, "Laughter is the greatest threat to tyranny."theverge.com

• Memories of Kent State
  Chuck Ayers, an 84-year-old cartoonist who survived the 1970 shooting, tearfully remarks, "Even after 55 years, the gun barrels of state power remain unchanged."theverge.com

3. Ripples Spreading Locally—Grassroots in Oneonta, NY

In a town of 15,000, hundreds gathered. Anger over pension cuts, environmental deregulation, and news of immigrant detentions ignited the protest. The organizer insists, "Persuasion is the tactic. Win neighbors over rather than shout angrily."theverge.com

4. National Guard and Fake News—Between Tension and Exaggeration

Texas deployed 5,000 National Guard members and 2,000 state police. Conservative X accounts spread false posts like "LA is lawless" and "Mexican military considering intervention." CNN analysis shows some posts exceeded 1 million views, with community notes unable to keep up.nagoyatv.comcnn.co.jp

5. Real-time Intensity on SNS

6. Trump's Camp's Response and Crisis Management

The President posted "Go to hell" on Truth Social. At a supporter rally, he countered with "I am no king," but the military parade proceeded as planned.news.yahoo.com

(Omitted: Statements from White House officials, expert comments)

7. Implications for Japan

• "Double Distortion" in Overseas Protest Reporting
  Domestic reports tend to highlight scenes of violence. Meanwhile, unverified information tends to spread easily on SNS.

• The Defensive Power of "Laughter and Diversity" in Democracy
  Non-violent resistance through costumes and music resonates with the 2019 Hong Kong protests and the 2024 Iranian women's demonstrations.

8. Conclusion: The "Festival of Democracy" Continues

In the night of LA, balloons were lowered, and people dispersed. Yet, debates continue to boil over on social media. Political scientist Rebecca Solnit says, "The parade is fleeting, but the voice is enduring." This movement, which turns power into an object of laughter, will ripple into the next election and onto street corners worldwide.