Tens of thousands of Americans will be taking to the streets Saturday in Washington, D.C., and hundreds of American cities to protest what they see as the nation’s alarming slide toward authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
Dubbed “No Kings” protests, the large-scale demonstrations are being promoted as a defense of democracy and constitutional balance — while Trump’s Republican base is condemning them as “Hate America” rallies, accusing the protesters of fomenting discord and prolonging the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its 18th day.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The marches are the third and largest wave of public demonstrations since Trump’s controversial return to the White House earlier this year. Unlike past marches — one against Elon Musk’s federal technology reductions and another against Trump’s planned military parade — this weekend’s marches are being mobilized as a across-the-board movement that unites progressives, moderates, and independents alarmed by the administration’s expanding powers.
This is not only a protest — it’s a declaration that America will not be ruled by a king,” Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin, one of the organizing groups’ leaders, said. “There is no greater threat to authoritarianism than ordinary people standing up together.”.
Organizers believe that there are over 2,600 rallies planned across the country, coordinated with more than 300 coalition allies, such as progressive groups, labor unions, and community organizations. The majority of Americans, they claim, will be no more than an hour away from a registered protest location.
Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Critics in the Streets
President Trump will not be in Washington during the demonstrations. He departed Friday morning for Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence, where he is hosting a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser. Speaking earlier on Fox News, Trump dismissed criticism of his leadership style, saying:
“They say they’re calling me a king. I’m not a king.”
Still, his political opponents see a disturbing trend in his exercise of executive power. From the challenge of congressional oversight to the attempt to limit judicial authority, Trump’s latest actions have deepened concern about what some refer to as a constitutional crisis.
A Divided Congress Under Shutdown
The protests come as the federal government remains shut down for over two weeks, as national parks have been closed, federal workers furloughed, and core programs suspended.
Democrats blame Trump for triggering the standoff by insisting on not giving an inch on a budget blueprint that boosts spending on the military and immigration enforcement while lowering social and healthcare spending. Republicans, in turn, accuse Democrats of holding the budget hostage to appease what they characterize as the “far-left base.”.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) mocked future protests as “the Hate America rallies” and said they would attract “antifa types,” “Marxists,” and “anti-capitalists.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders have also spoken in support of the protests, describing them as an act of patriotic resistance.
This is a rally for love-America,” Sanders said in a tweet from millions of online followers. “It’s a movement for people who believe in the Constitution, in American freedom, and in democracy itself. We will not let Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian regime.”
Protests Go Global
Outside of America, American expatriates are also getting into the act. Several hundred protesters demonstrated in front of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, chanting and waving flags and screaming “No Kings!” Similar demonstrations will be held in London, Paris, and Berlin as well, spearheaded by the Democrats Abroad network to show support for the effort at home.
A Political Turning Point for Democrats
The “No Kings” protests come as Democrats are showing new unity after months of internal party dissension over how to strike back against Trump’s policies. Party leaders were criticized earlier this year for being too cautious — particularly after Schumer allowed a spending bill to move forward without resisting the administration’s agenda.
Now, activists say, the party appears to be rediscovering its backbone. “What we’re seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said Levin. “The worst thing they could do right now is surrender.”
From just 1,300 locations in April, to 2,100 in June, and now over 2,600 this weekend, the scale of protest is growing — signaling what many view as a turning point in the post-Trump political landscape.
Republican Backlash and Politics
National protests would have potent optics for Republicans. In calling the demonstrations extremist, the GOP is attempting to mobilize its base and brand Democrats as being out of touch with everyday Americans.
“The left desires chaos,” said Speaker Johnson in a Capitol press conference. “They’d prefer the government be shut down than they see Trump prevail.”
But experts warn that tactic could backfire. “Calling patriotic protesters ‘anti-American’ could alienate moderates,” Georgetown University political scientist Dr. Allison Greene said. “The question is not whether people love America — it’s what America they believe exists.”
The “No Kings” slogan has become a clarion call for those who view Trump’s leadership as a threat to the Founders’ vision of checks and balances. The phrase harkens back to America’s revolutionary past, when colonists overthrew the rule of King George III in favor of a government by and for the people.
“Donald Trump’s form of exercising power — denouncing the press, undermining judges, and brushing aside Congress — is exactly why this country was founded in order to spurn kingship,” wrote historian Dr. Marcus Hill of Howard University. “This movement is tapping into a very American tradition of resisting tyranny.”
Democracy in the Balance
While Republicans accuse Democrats of politicizing the shutdown, protest leaders say the protests are not an exercise of party loyalty but rather about reasserting the balance of power.
“This is about democracy itself,” said one New York volunteer, who carried a sign that read ‘No Kings. No Dictators. Just Us.’
For the majority, the protests are a statement that the presidency of the U.S. needs to remain one of co-equal power, not unchecked superiority.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries summarized the sentiment:
“What’s hateful is what happened on January 6th. What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like — Americans standing up to the extremism that Donald Trump has unleashed.”
The Road Ahead
As the rallies wind down, their impact will be felt well into the week. As a government shutdown locks up Washington and a presidential election cycle has already started to get hot, the “No Kings” movement could be the start of a broader effort to figure out what democracy in 21st-century America is all about.
Whether it will become a fleeting protest or a lasting political movement remains to be seen. But what is certain is that for many Americans, the fight for democracy has moved out of the halls of Congress and onto the streets.
