‘No Kings’ protests — Trump critics rally across the US

No Kings Protests: Trump Critics Mobilize Across the U.S.

Across the United States, citizens gathered on Saturday for widespread demonstrations targeting President Donald Trump, branded as “No Kings” rallies. Participants assert that the nation’s democratic foundations are weakening under his leadership, with the White House characterizing the events as driven by “leftist funding networks” lacking genuine public backing.

Thousands of protesters marched in Washington, D.C., crossing the Potomac River bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, a historic hub for civil rights movements. Among the slogans waved were “Trump Must Go Now!” and “Fight Fascism,” reflecting concerns over authoritarian tendencies in the administration. In Atlanta, a veteran activist told AFP that the U.S. Constitution faces “multiple threats,” emphasizing that “no country can govern without the people’s consent.” He added, “Things aren’t normal. They aren’t okay.”

“No country can govern without the consent of the people,” said 36-year-old military veteran Marc McCaughey. “Things aren’t normal. They aren’t okay.”

Protests extended beyond American borders, with demonstrations in major European cities. In Germany, activists in Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf voiced political and social grievances, including opposition to ICE operations and demands for transparency around the Epstein files. Meanwhile, in Rome, marchers shouted at Premier Giorgia Meloni after her government’s judicial reform referendum failed, linking the issue to broader threats to judicial independence.

London saw demonstrators holding signs that read “Stop the far right” and “Stand up to Racism,” underscoring a coordinated global response. The White House, however, rejected the scale of the gatherings, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson calling them “a product of leftist funding networks” and downplaying their significance.

Organizers reported over 9 million participants nationwide for Saturday’s event, marking the third such demonstration in under a year. Earlier rallies in June and October drew millions, highlighting mounting frustration with Trump’s policies. These include immigration practices, allegations of high-level corruption, the cost-of-living crisis, and the Iran conflict, which has also fueled rising fuel prices in recent weeks.

As midterm elections approach in November, Trump’s Republican Party faces pressure to retain control of Congress. The protests underscore a growing national and international divide over the direction of U.S. governance and its implications for democratic principles.