University of Kwazulu-Natal

No Kings Protests Planned Nationwide Amid Growing Trump Tensions

Bonisiwe Shabane
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no kings protests planned nationwide amid growing trump tensions

The nationwide protests are playing out as a federal government shutdown lingers and troops are being deployed in cities. More than 2,600 protests against the Trump administration are scheduled to take place across the country on Saturday in a demonstration known as No Kings Day. Organizers are attempting to build on the momentum from their previous event on June 14, when around 2,000 rallies were held in all 50 states and drew more than five million people. It was the same day a military parade was held in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary and on President Trump’s 79th birthday. This time, the protests are taking place against the backdrop of a government shutdown, immigration raids and the deployment of federal troops in cities. Organizers say that the tenor behind the protest movement feels more charged and that they expect an even larger number of participants.

The number of people who have already signed up, which is not a requirement, is nearly double what it was in June, said Hunter Dunn, a spokesman for the coalition behind No Kings. No Kings protests (also called No Kings 2.0[12][13][14] and No Kings Day 2.0[15][16]) took place on October 18, 2025, as part of a series of demonstrations taking place largely in the United States against... The demonstrations, which followed the June 2025 No Kings protests, took place in some 2,700 locations across the country, including the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City. Organizers of the protests estimated that the protests drew nearly 7 million attendees,[17][18] while a partnership between data journalist G. Elliott Morris and The Xylom, an independent Atlanta-based science newsroom, estimated 5 million to 6.5 million participants. Either estimate would make this one of the largest single-day protests in American history.[19]

The October 18, 2025, protests followed the No Kings protests in June, the Free America Weekend on July 4, and the Good Trouble Lives On protest on July 17. About 200 organizations worked together to organize the October protests, including 50501 and Indivisible groups, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Democratic Socialists of America, the American Federation of Teachers,... Outside the United States, protests were organized by Democrats Abroad. Various groups organized protests in the UK, including the Stop Trump Coalition.[29] Organizers were "adamant that the rallies remain peaceful",[30] according to USA Today, and held virtual safety trainings ahead of the protests with help from the ACLU.[31] According to The New York Times, "Many had... Large crowds of protesters have gathered in cities across the United for “No Kings” demonstrations against what they see a drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump

'No Kings' Protests Against Trump Bring a Street Party Vibe to Cities Nationwide People are signing a giant Constitution as they take part in a "No Kings" protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) WASHINGTON (AP) — Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for “ No Kings ” demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government's swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.

People carrying signs with slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism" packed into New York City’s Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and... Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces. Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for " No Kings " demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government's swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. People carrying signs with slogans such as "Nothing is more patriotic than protesting" or "Resist Fascism" packed into New York City's Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and... Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.

Trump's Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as "Hate America" rallies, but in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, huge banners with the U.S. Constitution's "We The People" preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon. It was the third mass mobilization since Trump's return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing... In Washington, Iraq War Marine veteran Shawn Howard said he had never participated in a protest before but was motivated to show up because of what he sees as the Trump administration's "disregard for... cities are "un-American" and alarming signs of eroding democracy.

Protesters in Atlanta, New York City, Washington, D.C., and other major cities gather for demonstrations marking a "day of defiance" against Trump’s administration. Millions of people are expected to gather across thousands of locations in the United States on Saturday for a nationwide "No Kings" protest challenging President Donald Trump and his GOP priorities. Saturday's demonstrations across the nation mark the second "No Kings" protest since Trump took office. Some Democratic members and candidates for Congress are expected to attend. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not provide a clear answer when asked if he would attend one of the rallies Saturday, telling reporters he hadn't "finalized" his schedule. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as well as House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., both told the press they would be in attendance Saturday.

Republicans have argued that this second mass "No Kings" protest event scheduled for Saturday is simply an effort to distract from the current government shutdown battle and appease their base. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told FOX Business he hoped that Democratic leaders who attended would be more willing to accept the GOP's plan after the demonstrations were over — but he did not... WASHINGTON (AP) — Protesting the direction of the country under President Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities big and small across the U.S. for " No Kings " demonstrations that the president’s Republican Party disparaged as “Hate America” rallies. With signs such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S.

Constitution’s “We The People” preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon. It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing... Trump himself was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. “They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club.

Though Oct. 18's "No Kings" protests share a name with its predecessor, organizers are expecting an unmatched flood of people for what they believe will be the largest single day of protest in modern American history. "The anger level is way higher" than it was in June for the last protests of the same name, said Public Citizen copresident Lisa Gilbert, one of the organizers. "It's not just policies we don't like … but it's also actual chipping away at democracy, at foundational rights and prerogatives that we all expect. … People are saying 'I've never been moved to action before, but now I feel like I have to.'” Things have changed in the past four months, organizers and activists told USA TODAY.

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, sent troops into several Democratic-controlled cities, made massive changes to American health care and eroded First Amendment rights, they say. “If you're not scared, you're not paying attention. These folks are serious. They are actively trying to take away your constitutional right to peaceful protest, and that is how authoritarian regimes work," said Indivisible cofounder Ezra Levin, another of the organizers. "They fear more than anything one thing, which is the mass, peaceful, organized population pushing back against their unpopular designs on the system." In addition to Indivisble and Public Citizen, hosting organizations include long-standing activism groups like MoveOn, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign and Working Families Power, along with multiple unions and grassroots...

The name "No Kings" comes from the organizers' belief that President Donald Trump is acting like a monarch rather than the leader of a democracy. By MIKE PESOLI, MATT BROWN and GARY FIELDS WASHINGTON (AP) — Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for “ No Kings ” demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government’s swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. People carrying signs with slogans such as “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism” packed into New York City’s Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and... Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.

Trump’s Republican Party disparaged the demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies, but in many places the events looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, huge banners with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People” preamble that people could sign, and demonstrators wearing inflatable costumes, particularly frogs, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon. It was the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and came against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services but is testing... Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue for Saturday's "No Kings" protest in Washington, D.C. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc.

via Getty Images hide caption Demonstrators across the U.S. took to the streets on Saturday to protest the policies of President Trump. The overriding theme of the marches was the accusation that the president is behaving more like a monarch than an elected official. This is the second massive wave of protests organized by No Kings — a network of progressive organizations fighting against Trump's agenda. Organizers projected a turnout in the millions across some 2,600 events around the country.

In New York City's Times Square, protesters carried signs that read: "resist the fascists traitors" and "No crowns, No kings," spilled into the crowd of Broadway matinee show attendees, Gothamist reported.

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