Trump watches Army demonstration at Fort Bragg as he faces criticism for deploying military to LA

Fort Bragg, which is located near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as headquarters for U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there.

The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also at Tuesday's event, along with service members, veterans and their families.

Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd earlier in the afternoon, called Trump "the greatest recruiter in our Army's history."

Trump has promoted the Army's anniversary as a reason to hold a military parade in Washington on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.

Trump, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell disturbances that began as protests over immigration raids.

Trump has authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city over the objections of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area, but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.

California sued Trump over the deployment, with the state attorney general arguing that the president had "trampled" the state's sovereignty. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger, leading crowds to block off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire.

"We're gonna have troops everywhere," Trump said over the weekend. "We're not going to let this happen to our country."

Fort Bragg has been in the middle of a cultural tug-of-war over the military. It was named after a Confederate general, then renamed Fort Liberty two years ago.

Hegseth brought back the Bragg name but said it was being used to honor an Army paratrooper who served in World War II.