On Saturday, October 18th, more than 7 million people (representing 2.1% of the nation’s population) at more than 2,700 locations across the country participated in “No Kings” protests that criticized the Trump administration.
The main themes of these peaceful, yet extensive protests were preserving democracy, fighting against corruption, and affirming that the power belongs to the people. Participants opposed what they view as a drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.
Some of the specific matters that protesters were speaking out against were cuts to Medicare-Medicaid, defunding of medical research, ignoring mass shootings in schools and communities, National Guard deployment into cities, persecution of immigrants and arming of ICE.
While millions show their support, some Republicans and MAGA supporters are ridiculing the movement, often using the term “hate America rallies” to describe the protests. They have argued that the “No Kings” message itself doesn’t make sense, given President Donald Trump was democratically elected.
The day after the protests occurred, Trump commented that the participants were “not representative of this country.” He and his team have taken to posting AI images and videos containing bizarre and mocking imagery. One in particular was a crowned President Trump, as a fighter pilot, dropping “bombs” of excrement on the protestors.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed the protests by commenting, “Who cares?” The administration had no further comment.
This protest has been the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House.
According to the official No Kings website (the organizers behind these protests), “The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings — and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
