Thousands of protesters filled streets across the United States on Saturday, opposing the country’s direction under President Donald Trump. The “No Kings” demonstrations spanned all 50 states, with more than 2,600 rallies nationwide.
Protesters gathered in New York’s Times Square, Chicago’s Grant Park, Boston Commons, and Washington, DC, chanting, “Trump must go now.” Many waved signs criticizing Trump’s policies and his immigration crackdown.
Crowds held banners reading “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism.” Some turned the demonstrations into lively street parties with marching bands, a giant US Constitution banner for signatures, and frog-costumed protesters from Portland, Oregon.
The rallies marked the third major protest since Trump’s return to the White House. Organizers framed the demonstrations as a defense of democracy amid a government shutdown and escalating tensions between the executive branch, Congress, and the courts.
Republican leaders dismissed the events as “Hate America” rallies, but protesters said they represented grassroots patriotism.
Protesters Challenge “King” Narrative as Trump Hosts Fundraiser
President Trump remained at Mar-a-Lago in Florida during the demonstrations, where smaller protests also took place nearby.
Speaking to Fox News on Friday, Trump addressed critics directly.
“They say they’re calling me a king. I’m not a king,” he said before attending a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser.
Organizers said the rallies united diverse groups opposed to Trump’s policies, from labor activists to environmentalists. Earlier protests this year focused on Elon Musk’s job cuts and Trump’s planned military parade, but activists say Saturday’s turnout was far larger.
Top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders, joined demonstrations, condemning the administration’s stance on free speech and immigration raids.
“There is no greater threat to authoritarianism than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, a leading organizing group.
Solidarity Marches Spread Across Europe
Protests also erupted in Europe, where hundreds of people joined rallies in Madrid, Helsinki, Paris, and Berlin in solidarity with Americans.
Many participants were US citizens living abroad who expressed concern about Trump’s impact on global relations. In Madrid, attendees waved signs reading “No Kings,” “No Oligarchs,” and “No Fascism.”
In Helsinki, one demonstrator said European friends now avoid visiting the US out of fear.
“America has damaged its reputation on the world stage,” the protester said. “The Trump administration caused that decline.”
Some protesters injected humor into their dissent with signs reading “No Kings — except Bad Bunny” and “Trump, stop humping Putin’s leg like a dog!”
The “No Kings” movement has now spread across continents, as critics of Trump’s leadership unite under one message — that democracy, not domination, must define America’s future.
