Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests Target Trump Amid GOP Backlash
On Saturday, millions are expected to join “No Kings” protests across all 50 states, opposing President Trump’s expanding executive power during a prolonged government shutdown. Organized by progressive groups like Indivisible, ACLU, and MoveOn, over 2,700 events are planned, making this the largest protest since Trump’s return to office.
Demonstrators accuse the president of authoritarian overreach, particularly in his handling of immigration raids, military crackdowns in Democratic-led cities, and his use of the shutdown to slash federal programs. Trump, currently at Mar-a-Lago for a fundraiser, responded: “I’m not a king,” while asserting he has authority to cut Democrat-backed programs.
Republicans have labeled the events “Hate America” rallies, with leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson calling protesters “Marxists” and “antifa types.” They claim the demonstrations are obstructing negotiations to reopen the government. Protest organizers counter that the GOP is using fear tactics to distract from Trump’s attacks on democratic norms.
Democratic leaders, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Chuck Schumer, are backing the movement. “It’s a love-America rally,” said Sanders, emphasizing the protests’ focus on constitutional values and civil liberties.
The first “No Kings” protest occurred in June during Trump’s military parade. Since then, momentum has grown. Organizers say nearly every American lives within an hour of a rally, with Oregon alone hosting events in more than 50 cities, including Portland, Salem, Bend, and on the coast.
As tensions rise, the protests highlight a deepening national divide — one side warning against creeping authoritarianism, the other accusing the left of radicalism. But for many rallygoers, the message is simple: “America belongs to its people, not to kings.”