IRIA News

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Millions of Americans flooded streets across the country on October 18, 2025, voicing outrage over what they see as President Donald Trump’s slide toward authoritarianism.

The massive “No Kings” protests, now in their second major wave since June, brought together citizens from across the political and social spectrum under a single rallying cry, the defense of democracy.

According to organizers, nearly seven million people took part in more than 2,700 demonstrations across all 50 states, marking one of the largest coordinated protest movements in modern U.S. history.

From New York’s Times Square to Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Washington, D.C., massive crowds held banners reading “Democracy Not Monarchy,” “The Constitution Is Not Optional,” and “No Kings.”

The rallies were largely peaceful, despite a heavy police and National Guard presence in several states. Protesters chanted slogans, sang patriotic songs, and waved the U.S. flag, reclaiming national symbols they say have been politicized by Trump’s rhetoric.

Organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Indivisible, and several advocacy groups, the demonstrations drew support from civil rights, women’s health, and social justice organizations. Many participants wore yellow, the official color of the movement, symbolizing unity and resistance against authoritarianism.

San Francisco says #NOKings and YES on 50! -NP pic.twitter.com/8f7aymXTlQ

— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) October 18, 2025

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi posted a video to X from a “No Kings” event showing herself tearing apart a shiny plastic crown. “We’re gonna tear up the crown!” she declared as the crowd cheered. She later captioned the clip, “No Crown. #NoKings!”.

The 85-year-old, who once led the House twice as speaker, appeared to be echoing her 2020 moment when she tore up President Trump’s State of the Union address on live television.

At the Washington Monument, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders addressed tens of thousands, telling the crowd, “Millions of Americans are not on the streets because they hate America. We are here because we love America.”

Sanders cautioned about the growing threat of authoritarianism and openly denounced Trump’s style of leadership. “Today in the year 2025, in this dangerous moment in American history, our message is exactly the same. No, President Trump, we don’t want you or any other king to rule us. Thank you very much, but we will maintain our democratic form of society. We will not move toward authoritarianism in America,” he said.

He continued, “Our message is clear in this dangerous period of American history: No, President Trump, we don’t want you or any other king to rule us.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy echoed the sentiment, calling Trump “an authoritarian leader who has done profound harm to the republic.”

Celebrities Join the Movement

Prominent Hollywood figures joined the protests, lending star power to the cause. Actor Pedro Pascal marched in Los Angeles, sharing photos online with the caption, “Protect democracy.” Kerry Washington, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Mark Ruffalo also took part, using social media to urge their followers to “stand up against authoritarianism.”

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel addressed protesters in Los Angeles, saying, “We’re not here to divide America, we’re here to remind the powerful that this country belongs to its people, not its rulers.”

In New York, musicians performed from makeshift stages, blending art and activism. “When democracy is under threat, silence is not an option,” said singer Halsey, who led the crowd in chanting “No kings, no crowns.”

The growing involvement of public figures has amplified the movement’s visibility, with organizers saying the support “reflects a cultural shift toward active civic engagement.”

Government’s Reactions

The Trump administration dismissed the protests as “theatrics.” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused organizers of “manufacturing outrage” and said the president “remains committed to law and order.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson described the rallies as “hate-America protests,” claiming some demonstrators had ties to far-left groups. “There were hateful messages aimed at the president and our institutions,” he said.

But organizers rejected those claims, saying the protests were patriotic and peaceful. “This isn’t about left or right, it’s about the Constitution,” read a statement from the No Kings committee. “Our goal is simple: to preserve the democratic values that define America.”

Trump Mocks Protests

President Donald Trump responded to the demonstrations with a controversial AI-generated video posted on his Truth Social account, further inflaming tensions across the country.

In the clip, an artificial version of Trump appears wearing a golden crown while piloting a fighter jet emblazoned with the words “King Trump.” Set to the Top Gun theme song “Danger Zone,” the video shows the plane soaring over crowds of protesters before releasing thick brown sludge onto them, a move widely condemned as mocking and demeaning toward demonstrators.

Trump’s use of artificial intelligence to depict himself as a crowned ruler striking protesters sparked immediate backlash from political figures and rights groups. Critics described the post as “deeply irresponsible” and “authoritarian in tone,” while Trump supporters claimed it was meant as satire.

The White House has not issued an official statement about the video. However, the president’s post underscores the increasingly combative tone between the administration and protest organizers. This conflict appears to be escalating as millions of Americans take to the streets under the slogan: “No kings, no crowns.”

Solidarity Beyond Borders

The movement’s message resonated worldwide. In London, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. Embassy waving placards reading “No Kings, No Crowns.” Similar rallies were held in Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and Toronto, where protesters displayed banners such as “Hands off Canada” and “Democracy is our defense.”

Across social media, the hashtag #NoKingsDay trended globally, with supporters posting photos, quotes, and videos of marches. The digital presence gave the protests an international dimension, turning them into a global statement against authoritarianism.

No Kings Movement Gaining Strength

The No Kings movement first gained traction in June 2025, when millions protested on Trump’s 79th birthday. Saturday’s events, however, were far larger in scale and organization, evidence, analysts say, of growing public unease with Trump’s governance.

Political observers note that the rallies have become a test of civic unity, mobilizing people across political affiliations who share concerns about democracy’s fragility. For many, the protests are less about partisan divides and more about restoring institutional checks and balances.

As night fell, candlelight vigils illuminated city squares across the country. In Washington, thousands sang the national anthem beneath the Washington Monument, holding signs that read “The People Rule.”

Organizers announced plans for follow-up events, including a virtual town hall next week to coordinate nationwide voter registration efforts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“This isn’t the end,” said ACLU director Anthony Romero. “It’s the beginning of a movement that will hold every leader, Trump or otherwise, accountable to the principles of democracy.”