On Saturday, October 18, 2025, millions of Americans flooded the streets in over 2,600 cities for the "No Kings" protests, transforming urban centers into vibrant festivals of resistance against President Donald Trump's perceived authoritarian drift. The third major mobilization since his return to the White House, these demonstrations—set against an 18-day government shutdown—drew an estimated seven million participants, outpacing June’s protests by two million.
In New York’s Times Square, thousands waved signs reading “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” and “Resist Fascism,” joined by marching bands and inflatable frog costumes, a playful Portland-born symbol of defiance. Crowds rallied in Boston’s parks, Atlanta’s streets, and Chicago’s Grant Park, where Mayor Brandon Johnson declared, “We will not bend, we will not bow.” Protesters marched through Washington, D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue, downtown Los Angeles, and picketed state capitols, a Montana courthouse, and hundreds of local public spaces.
The protests targeted Trump’s immigration raids, military deployments in cities like Portland and Chicago, and his clashes with Congress and courts during the shutdown. In D.C., Shawn Howard, an Iraq War veteran and former CIA counter-extremism officer, attended his first protest, condemning the administration’s “disregard for the law” and “un-American” troop deployments as steps toward civil conflict. In San Francisco, hundreds spelled out “No King!” on Ocean Beach, with Hayley Wingard, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, expressing alarm over federal troops in her native Portland.
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Portland’s massive downtown rally remained largely peaceful, though tensions spiked at an ICE facility, where federal agents used tear gas and police threatened arrests. The site has seen nightly protests since June, prompting Trump’s unsuccessful push to deploy National Guard troops, blocked by a federal judge. In Salt Lake City, 3,500 gathered at the Utah State Capitol to honor a protester killed in June’s march, while Birmingham, Alabama, saw 1,500 evoke its Civil Rights legacy. Local mother Jessica Yother, in a Trump-stronghold state, felt uplifted: “Here are my people.”
Democratic leaders amplified the message. In Washington, Senator Bernie Sanders warned that Trump endangers the “American experiment,” insisting, “We the people will rule.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Chris Murphy decried corruption and billionaire influence, particularly targeting Elon Musk. Ezra Levin of Indivisible praised Democrats’ newfound resolve, contrasting their earlier disarray.
From Mar-a-Lago, Trump dismissed the protests on Fox News, stating, “I’m not a king,” before attending a $1 million-per-plate MAGA fundraiser. His campaign mocked the rallies with a CGI video of Trump as a crowned monarch. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, branded the protests “Hate America” displays of “communists” and “antifa,” urging people to witness the “Marxists in full display.” Protesters like D.C.’s Glen Kalbaugh, sporting a wizard hat, countered with humor: “We match their unserious energy.”
No arrests were reported in New York, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed all 10 local protests stayed peaceful, emphasizing democratic resilience: “We won’t let our democracy slide backward.” Senator Murphy noted the rallies empower sidelined voices, uniting opposition against perceived tyranny in a nation on edge.
Also Read: Coast-to-Coast ‘No Kings’ Protests Challenge Trump’s Power Grab in Second Term