Americans filled streets across the United States on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s leadership during nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations.
More than 2,600 rallies took place in cities including Washington, New York, Boston, and Chicago, drawing thousands of participants.
By midday, thousands had already gathered in Times Square and Washington, D.C., chanting “Trump must go now!” and waving signs condemning his immigration policies. Protesters held banners reading “Resist Fascism” and “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting.”
The rallies resembled street festivals in many places, featuring marching bands, music, and a massive “We The People” banner that attendees signed. Some protesters wore frog costumes, a new resistance symbol that began in Portland, Oregon.
Organizers said this marked the third large-scale protest since Trump’s return to office, taking place amid a government shutdown that has disrupted federal services. Demonstrators warned that Trump’s confrontations with Congress and the courts represent a slide toward authoritarianism.
Trump Dismisses Critics as “Hate America” Rallies
Republican officials labeled the demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies, claiming protesters oppose the country’s success.
Trump remained at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where smaller protests were expected nearby.
“They say they’re calling me a king,” Trump told Fox News before attending a $1 million-per-plate fundraiser at his private club.
“I’m not a king,” he said, brushing off the movement’s name.
Earlier rallies this year targeted Elon Musk’s mass layoffs and Trump’s planned military parade, but organizers said this weekend’s turnout showed unified opposition to his administration.
Top Democrats, including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders, joined demonstrators to oppose what they described as attacks on free speech and militarized immigration raids.
“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the main organizing groups.
Global Demonstrations Show Solidarity with US Protesters
Solidarity rallies also took place across Europe, where hundreds of people—many of them American expatriates—joined in support of the “No Kings” movement.
In Madrid, protesters waved signs reading “No Kings,” “No Oligarchs,” and “No Faux-king Way.”
Democrats Abroad organized the event, emphasizing unity with those marching in the United States.
In Helsinki, demonstrators voiced concerns about America’s global image under Trump.
“Many Europeans won’t visit the U.S. now,” one protester said. “They fear what could happen under this administration.”
Placards carried cheeky slogans like “No Kings—Except Bad Bunny” and “Trump Stop Humping Putin’s Leg Like a Dog.”
The international turnout underscored how deeply Trump’s policies and rhetoric have polarized not just Americans, but global observers who see the movement as a defense of democracy and civil liberties.
