Millions poured into streets across the United States under the banner “No Kings,” protesting what they describe as Donald Trump’s authoritarian grip on power. From New York and Washington to Los Angeles and small towns nationwide, demonstrators rallied in defiance of the former president’s leadership style BBC report.
Artists, activists, war veterans, and ordinary citizens joined the protests, chanting for democracy and waving banners that read “No Kings in America.” According to organizers, more than 2,500 demonstrations took place across the country on Saturday, including major gatherings at Times Square in New York, Grant Park in Chicago, and downtown Washington, D.C.
“Donald Trump acts not as a president but as a monarch,” said one protester in Washington. “He has exceeded his executive powers, and we are here to ensure he can’t continue doing so. People won’t tolerate his abuse of authority any longer.”
Marchers carried placards, balloons, and flags, their chants echoing through city streets. The crowds accused Trump of undermining free speech, fair elections, independent media, and peaceful dissent — cornerstones of American democracy.
Despite Trump’s ongoing influence, protesters declared that “the people remain the true rulers” of the United States. Many speakers warned that the government’s stagnation and expansion of executive power threaten the nation’s democratic foundation.
In an interview with Fox News, set to air on Sunday, Trump appeared to address the rallies.
“A king! This is not an act,” Trump said in a preview clip of the interview. “You know – they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king.”
The rallies, held amid an 18-day government shutdown, drew strong statements from civil rights groups. The American Civil Liberties Union confirmed its legal teams were on the ground to ensure protests remained peaceful and protected.
One protester at the rally in the capital held up a sign that read “I am Antifa”.
Chuck Epes, 76, said it was a “loaded” term, and just meant he supported “peace, daycare, liveable wage, healthcare”, as well as immigrants and people of colour.
“He’s gaslighting everybody – or trying to, and it ain’t working,” he said.
Democratic politicians joined the protests around the country.
“We have no dictators in America. And we won’t allow Trump to keep eroding our democracy,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X alongside photos of himself holding up a sign that read “fix the health care crisis” in New York.
Similar solidarity demonstrations erupted outside U.S. embassies in London, Madrid, Berlin, and Barcelona, where hundreds gathered in support.
Read more: U.S. Government Shutdown Raises Travel Concerns as Federal Workers Go Unpaid
Analysts described Saturday’s mobilization as possibly one of the largest civic uprisings in modern U.S. history, with an estimated turnout of more than three million people demanding accountability and the preservation of democratic values.
