MSNBC hosts Ali Velshi and Chris Hayes appeared surprised on Saturday that the military parade event in Washington, D.C., wasn't giving off "dark, malevolent energy," which they said was often the case at President Donald Trump's rallies."One thing I will say, I want to go back to you, Ali, that, again, when we talk about the sort of tension in the country, and sometimes, you know, you and I have both been at Trump rallies, those can be very tense, a kind of, I would say, like kind of a dark, malevolent energy, sometimes in them, not always, but it doesnt seem like thats the energy on the Mall today, which I think is a good sign, right?" Hayes asked Velshi.The military parade on Saturday honored the U.S. Armys 250th anniversary, which also coincided with Trump's 79th birthday. However, the parade came as riots and protests continue in Los Angeles and across the country over the Trump administration's policies."Correct. Youre really correct about that, Chris, and its something we were watching for. Im just sort of surprised by the number of people who were at the front of the parade watching, cheering, and then would come and ask to take a selfie. This is a very different, this is a very different mood here. People seem to be going out of their way to say that theyre here to celebrate the Armys 250th birthday," Velshi said.MILITARY PARADE DRAWS PATRIOTIC AMERICANS FROM NEAR AND FAR: 'NO BETTER TIME TO COME TO DC'Velshi said that politicization was still present at the event, but that it wasn't dark or tense."Now, there are people walking around with signs. Moments ago, while you were talking to Jen, a guy just came around and said, Trump 2028! and I said, How does that work exactly? and he was, like, laughing and had a big flag on him. So theres some politicization here, but its not dark, its not tense, its not amped up. Its different. Its different from covering a Trump rally," he continued.Hayes brought up "exuberant" protests across the nation in small towns and asked MSNBC host Jen Psaki about the country's "civic culture."LIBERAL MEDIA MELTS DOWN OVER TRUMPS MILITARY PARADE PLAN, CALLING IT AUTHORITARIAN"Theres sort of a feeling of hope, I think, and this speaks to what Ali is sort of experiencing, is that the countrys civic culture and democratic culture is actually quite strong and sort of is an enormous asset that we have when we compare ourselves to other places. There genuinely is a democratic and civic culture in this country that I think, I think, most Americans still hang on to," he said.MSNBC's Jen Psaki said it was "encouraging" to hear that "there is a calm and that it isnt overly exercised among the people attending."However, Psaki said the calm may shift depending on what President Trump said during his speech at the parade.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE"People who have never participated in protests or have never seen themselves as part of an activist movement are out there today, right? Theyre out there with their kids and their 98-year-old mothers, and that tells you how people feel moved in this moment. So, that is a part of our environment, that is a part of who we are as a country, and today is an example of that. And lets certainly all hope that that continues at this event this evening," the MSNBC host said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP