Americans filled streets across the country on Saturday to challenge President Donald Trump’s leadership during a wave of “No Kings” protests. Organizers held more than 2,600 rallies nationwide, drawing thousands of demonstrators to Washington, New York, Chicago, and Boston.
By noon, Times Square and Washington, D.C. had already filled with protestors chanting, “Trump must go now.” They waved signs criticizing the president and his immigration policies. Slogans like “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism” echoed through the streets.
Some rallies felt festive, with marching bands, a giant banner of the U.S. Constitution’s preamble for participants to sign, and frog-costumed demonstrators, a symbol of resistance from Portland, Oregon.
The protests marked the third large-scale mobilization since Trump’s return to office. Demonstrators expressed frustration over the ongoing government shutdown, which has halted federal services and, they say, exposed an imbalance of power between Congress, the courts, and what they view as an overreaching presidency.
Organizers Warn of Authoritarian Drift as GOP Dismisses Movement
Republican officials dismissed the protests as “Hate America” rallies, while Trump stayed at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Local groups planned smaller protests near the estate throughout the weekend.
In a Fox News interview Friday, Trump rejected the “king” label.
“They say they’re calling me a king. I’m not a king,” he said before heading to a $1 million-per-plate fundraiser at his club.
Organizers said the “No Kings” movement united opposition groups previously divided over different issues. Earlier protests — including ones against Elon Musk’s mass layoffs and Trump’s June military parade — drew attention, but Saturday’s event brought together a wider coalition.
Leading Democrats like Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders joined demonstrators, denouncing what they described as attacks on democracy, free speech, and immigrant rights.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, addressed supporters:
“No force threatens authoritarianism more than patriotic people-power,” he said to cheers.
Global Solidarity: Protests Erupt Across Europe
Supporters abroad staged parallel protests in major European cities, showing solidarity with American demonstrators. Hundreds of U.S. expatriates gathered in Madrid, Helsinki, London, and Berlin under the same “No Kings” banner.
In Madrid, attendees waved signs reading “No Kings,” “No Oligarchs,” and “No Fascism.” A few humorous slogans appeared too, including “No Kings—Except Bad Bunny” and “Trump Stop Humping Putin’s Leg Like a Dog!”
In Helsinki, an American protester voiced concerns about global perception:
“My European friends refuse to visit the U.S. They’re worried about safety and embarrassed by what America represents now.”
Organizers across Europe said they wanted to remind the world that many Americans still oppose Trump’s direction. The global rallies, they added, symbolized a shared demand for democracy, accountability, and equality — values they say are under threat in today’s United States.
