Massive demonstrations under the banner “No Kings” took place on Saturday across the United States, protesting against President Donald Trump’s harsh policies and authoritarian behavior.
In cities across all 50 American states, millions of people took to the streets in support of democracy and against President Trump’s policies. According to organizers, nearly 7 million citizens participated in this movement, which spread from New York to Los Angeles.
Protests also occurred near Trump’s Florida residence and in small towns across the American heartland.
Near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., thousands of protesters chanted “This is what democracy looks like!” and also expressed anger against the government’s prolonged shutdown. Colorful posters bore the message “Protect our Democracy,” while some demanded the abolition of ICE, the agency that oppresses immigrants.
69-year-old retired Colleen Hoffman from New York said tearfully, “I never thought I would see the day I’d have to watch a democratic country die with my own eyes. We are in a crisis – this administration’s cruelty and authoritarianism is trying to force us to our knees.”
In Los Angeles, protesters flew a giant balloon of Trump wearing a diaper. Some waved flags bearing the “skull logo” that has become prevalent in recent global protests. In Houston, the message “Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants” caught citizens’ attention.
While the protests were mostly peaceful, the Los Angeles Times reported that police used non-lethal rounds and tear gas during crowd control in downtown Los Angeles. The LAPD stated that the crowd was dispersed “following a lawful order,” but no details of arrests were made public.
An estimated crowd of over 100,000 was reported in New York, and between 8,000 to 10,000 in Washington D.C. The organizers’ attendance figures could not be independently verified.
President Trump, however, responded via his Truth Social platform by releasing a series of AI-generated videos depicting himself as a king. In one, he is shown wearing a crown, flying a fighter jet, and insulting his opponents. His allies also mocked the protests, calling them a “hate America rally.” House Speaker Mike Johnson described the protesters as a mix of “Marxists, socialists, and Hamas-supporting leftists.”
But the protesters dismissed these allegations with humor. Paolo, a 63-year-old participant in Washington, said, “If this is hate, then those critics need to go back to school.” Another protester, Tony, a 34-year-old software engineer, said, “The right-wing hates us, but we are standing for the truth.”
According to Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU, the main message of the protesters was that “We are a country of equality and law.” She said, “We believe in justice, due process, and democracy for all. We will not be silent.”
Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the Indivisible Project, strongly criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to send the National Guard to cities with Democratic leadership—Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis. In her words, “This is the old strategy of authoritarian regimes to silence citizens through threats, confusion, and fear.”
Speaking in front of the U.S. Capitol, progressive Senator Bernie Sanders warned that the Trump administration poses a serious threat to democracy. He said, “We have a president who is trying to concentrate all power in his own hands and those of his inner circle.”
16-year-old student Isaac Harder said, “The future for our generation looks dark. This is a fascist path, and I want to contribute my part to stop it.”
