‘No Kings’ protests sweep US as demonstrators rally against Trump
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New York: Massive demonstrations erupted across the United States on Saturday as hundreds of thousands took to the streets under the banner of “No Kings”, accusing President Donald Trump of steering the country towards authoritarianism.
The nationwide protest, backed by the Democratic Party, marked the second “No Kings” rally following the inaugural event in June, with organisers claiming that this time turnout was significantly higher.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the presidential election to Trump, urged supporters to join the demonstrations. In a post on X, she wrote, “I encourage you to join your neighbors in peaceful protest at a No Kings event... to express out voice.”
The “No Kings” slogan recalls the anti-monarchy sentiment of the American Revolution, which rejected British rule and established a republic.
Trump dismissed accusations of having monarchical ambitions. “They're referring to me as a king. I'm not a king,” he told Fox Business in an interview.
Among the groups sponsoring the protests were the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and several trade unions, including teachers’ associations.
The demonstrations coincided with a partial government shutdown triggered by a budget deadlock between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. Democrats are demanding the restoration of cuts to health and medical insurance programmes, which Trump argues would cost the treasury over $1.5 trillion.
Amid the standoff, the Senate has been unable to pass a temporary funding bill to reopen the government.
Anger intensified after Trump deployed federal forces to several Democratic-run states and ramped up immigration enforcement. During the shutdown, funding was also withheld from key social programmes in these states.
Protesters accused Trump of overreach for deploying federal personnel in cities under Democratic leadership, claiming he was undermining local authority and the Constitution. He has also threatened to assume control of law and order in certain cities, despite there being no constitutional provision for presidential rule.
In New York, tens of thousands flooded Times Square. Similar demonstrations were held in Los Angeles, where clashes between immigration officers and protesters have become frequent, and in Chicago, where Governor J.B. Pritzker, a vocal Trump critic, joined the movement.
Trump has repeatedly targeted Chicago and Illinois in his campaign against what he describes as “rampant crime” and has sought to intensify federal enforcement there.
Across the country, more than 2,500 protests were planned, including in Washington D.C. While many carried angry placards, others turned to satire, using costumes and humour to mock the Trump administration.