Hundreds gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall to demand an end to U.S. military strikes on Iran and urge the United States to stay out of the conflict. The rally was part of a national day of action, organised by anti-war groups including the Party for Socialism and Liberation Philly, the ANSWER Coalition and Socialist Alternative. Demonstrators expressed their opposition to the spending of $1 trillion on the military budget every year and nearly $200 billion on ICE while communities are underfunded. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump defended his decision to strike Iran, saying the US was "nearly under threat". While the military operation is projected to last four to five weeks, Aaron Stein, president of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, suggested Americans should prepare for a longer conflict.