Thousands of demonstrators across the U.S. and abroad gathered for “No Kings” rallies to protest President Donald Trump’s leadership, particularly amid an ongoing government shutdown. Protesters voiced concerns about authoritarian overreach, the erosion of democratic norms, and the vilification of dissent. Many carried American flags and signs asserting their patriotism, pushing back against Republican accusations that labeled the events as “Hate America” rallies.
The protests, organized by a broad coalition of progressive groups, mark the third major mobilization since Trump’s return to office. Organizers say the movement is coalescing into a more unified opposition, with support from prominent Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders. Demonstrators condemned the administration’s immigration policies, attacks on free speech, and the militarized response to civil unrest, while also expressing unease over the deployment of the National Guard.
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the rallies as extremist and blamed them for prolonging the shutdown. Democrats, however, see the demonstrations as a necessary stand against executive overreach and a chance to reassert congressional authority. The growing scale of the protests—from 1,300 locations in April to over 2,600 now—signals a reinvigorated resistance movement aiming to challenge what they view as a drift toward authoritarianism.