{{Short description|Protests against Donald Trump}} {{Infobox civil conflict | title = No Kings protests | partof = the protests against the second Trump administration, the 50501 protests, and the Indivisible movement | image = File:No Kings Dallas-14.jpg | caption = No Kings protest in Dallas, Texas, in June 2025 | place = ~2,100 cities and locations | coordinates = | causes = * Second presidency of Donald Trump ** U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade ** Democratic backsliding in the United States ** One Big Beautiful Bill ** Shootings by U.S. immigration agents ** Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations ** 2026 Iran war ** 2026 United States federal government shutdowns ** Management of the Epstein files | methods = Nonviolent Protests | side1 = Main organizers * 50501 movement<ref name="Baumann">{{Cite web |first=Lisa |last=Baumann |date=June 12, 2025 |title=What to Know about 'No Kings' Protests against Trump's Policies |url=https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-things-to-know-trump-8d37f2bb2bf20ab503205b277e92b885 |access-date=June 25, 2025 |website=AP News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250613135326/https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-things-to-know-trump-8d37f2bb2bf20ab503205b277e92b885 |archive-date=June 13, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> * Indivisible movement<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ewing |first1=Giselle Ruhiyyih |title=The Resistance 2.0 arrives with nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/14/no-kings-protest-trump-00406243 |access-date=March 28, 2026 |work=Politico |date=June 14, 2025 |archive-date=June 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615004225/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/14/no-kings-protest-trump-00406243 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other organizers * MoveOn * Third Act Movement * Party for Socialism and Liberation<ref>{{cite news |title=PSL brings Marxist lens to ACES, the diverse coalition planning 'No Kings' June 14 |url=https://wholecommunity.news/2025/06/09/psl-brings-marxist-lens-to-aces-the-diverse-coalition-planning-no-kings-june-14/ |work=Whole Community News |date=June 9, 2025 |access-date=September 21, 2025 |archive-date=September 14, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250914015151/https://wholecommunity.news/2025/06/09/psl-brings-marxist-lens-to-aces-the-diverse-coalition-planning-no-kings-june-14/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Indivisible Abroad (International Chapters of Indivisible) * Democrats Abroad ("No Tyrants" international solidarity events) | howmany3 = Over four million protesters at 2,100+ protests nationwide (estimate) }}
The '''No Kings protests''' are a series of three protests (June 2025, October 2025 and March 2026), mainly held in the United States opposing the actions and policies of the second Trump administration. The group will also hold a concert, entitled ''Rise Up, Sing Out'' on June 14th, to compete with America250's concert series for the Great American State Fair, along with other events like the UFC Freedom 250 fight. The concert will be held in New York City.
==June 2025 protests== The June 2025 protests took place on June{{nbsp}}14, 2025 (labeled as '''No Kings Day''' by the participants), on the same day as the U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade and Trump's 79th birthday.
Organizers estimated that more than five million people participated in more than 2,100 cities and towns, including the flagship event in Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=April |last2=Falconer |first2=Rebecca |date=June 15, 2025 |title="No Kings" anti-Trump protests attract millions, organizers say |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/06/14/no-kings-protests-usa-june-14-trump-military-parade |website=Axios |access-date=June 15, 2025 |archive-date=June 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615230800/https://www.axios.com/2025/06/14/no-kings-protests-usa-june-14-trump-military-parade |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ACLU">{{Cite web |title=ACLU Statement: 2,100 Protests Take Place Nationwide |url=https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-2100-protests-take-place-nationwide |access-date=June 17, 2025 |website=American Civil Liberties Union |archive-date=June 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617040429/https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-2100-protests-take-place-nationwide |url-status=live }}</ref> More protests took place in the U.S. territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, and in 20 foreign countries, including Canada, Japan, Mexico, and in Europe. In countries with constitutional monarchies such as Canada and the United Kingdom, the alternate "Dictators" or "Tyrants" titles were favored over "Kings" to avoid confusion with anti-monarchic movements; Hawaiʻi did the same to avoid confusion with a King Kamehameha Day parade held on the same day and out of deference to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
==October 2025 protests== On October 18, 2025, demonstrations took place in some 2,700 locations across the country on, including the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City. Organizers of the protests estimated that the protests drew nearly 7 million attendees,<ref name="AJE_millions_no_kings">{{cite Q|Q136533001|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/19/us/protestors-voices-no-kings-trump Millions rally against Trump at ‘No Kings’ protests across the US, organizers say. Here’s why protesters say they attended] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251107232413/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/19/us/protestors-voices-no-kings-trump |date=November 7, 2025 }} CNN, Retrieved 8 November 2025</ref> while a partnership between data journalist G. Elliott Morris and the Xylom, an independent Atlanta-based science newsroom, estimated 5 million to 6.5 million participants. Either estimate would make this one of the largest single-day protests in American history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=G. Elliott |title=Second "No Kings Day" protests the largest single-day political protest ever*, with 5–6.5 million participants |url=https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-kings-day-protests-likely |access-date=October 20, 2025 |website=G Elliott Morris |language=en |archive-date=October 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251020023546/https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/second-no-kings-day-protests-likely |url-status=live }}</ref>
==March 2026 protests== In January 2026, organizers announced plans to hold a third "No Kings" mass mobilization in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, as well as the 2026 Minnesota general strike.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No Kings Coalition Responds to Escalating Brutality and Authoritarianism with Immediate Action and Future Mobilization; Condemns ICE's Deadly Actions |url=https://www.nokings.org/news/no-kings-coalition-responds-to-escalating-brutality |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=No Kings |language=en-US |date=January 28, 2026 |archive-date=February 2, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202063818/https://www.nokings.org/news/no-kings-coalition-responds-to-escalating-brutality |url-status=live }}</ref>
The third event took place on March 28, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=No Kings protests: Thousands across the US rally against Trump |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8wy7g1gd1o |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=2026-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260410230044/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8wy7g1gd1o |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition to the organizers' original plans, the 2026 Iran war,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/29/no-kings-protests-against-trump-focus-on-war-in-iran-the-us-is-on-the-wrong-side-of-history_6751910_4.html|title='No Kings' protests against Trump focus on war in Iran: 'The US is on the wrong side of history'|access-date=2026-04-02|archive-date=2026-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260403084624/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/03/29/no-kings-protests-against-trump-focus-on-war-in-iran-the-us-is-on-the-wrong-side-of-history_6751910_4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> democratic backsliding, suppression of the Epstein files, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations<ref name="Wise">{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Alana |date=2026-03-28 |title=At 'No Kings' rallies, anti-Trump protesters speak out against ICE 'cruelty,' Iran war |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/28/nx-s1-5763702/no-kings-saturday-protests |access-date=2026-03-31 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> were all subjects of protest. The organizers claim the protests included more than 3,300 organized events across the country that drew a combined estimated eight to nine million protestors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Venkatraman |first1=Sakshi |title=No Kings protests draw large crowds to rally against Donald Trump |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8wy7g1gd1o |access-date=30 March 2026 |agency=BBC |date=30 March 2026 |archive-date=10 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260410230044/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8wy7g1gd1o |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the largest single-day protest in American history.<ref>{{cite web |title=No Kings draw estimated 8 million in largest single-day U.S. nonviolent protest |url=https://nbc16.com/news/local/no-kings-protests-draw-estimated-8-million-in-largest-single-day-us-demonstrations-03-29-2026 |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=KTMR 16 News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Millions turn out for "No Kings" rallies held worldwide to protest against Trump |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-kings-rallies-protest-trump-millions/#:~:text=least%208%20million%20participants |access-date=29 March 2026 |website=CBS News |archive-date=29 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260329022840/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-kings-rallies-protest-trump-millions/#:~:text=least%208%20million%20participants |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-29 |title=Thousands protest across the US in anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/no-kings-protest-anti-trump-ralies-in-us/lar8xos22 |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=SBS News |language=en |archive-date=2026-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260407063854/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/no-kings-protest-anti-trump-ralies-in-us/lar8xos22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Millions of participants took part in protests across major cities, expressing concerns over democratic backsliding and military escalation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No Kings protesters set rally cities towns country |url=https://abcnews.com/Politics/no-kings-protesters-set-rally-cities-towns-country/story?id=131472712 |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>
Anti-war sentiment was a central theme of the protests, with demonstrators calling for an end to U.S. military actions in Iran and advocating for a shift in government spending priorities. Protesters displayed slogans such as "fund people, not bombs", reflecting opposition to defense spending and support for domestic programs. The protests formed part of a broader wave of demonstrations against the 2026 Iran war, which saw rallies organized in multiple U.S. cities and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Fund people, not bombs': inside the US movement against war in Iran |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/15/anti-war-protest-iran |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
At the rallies, many protesters focused on what they perceive as cruelty by ICE, particularly regarding the detention of individuals. Others directed their anger toward the war in Iran, calling it "a useless, vain war waged by a demented old man". Some also argued that service members are being asked to sacrifice their lives "not for freedom, but for money-hungry rulers".<ref name="Wise" />
President Trump responded by saying he was "not a fascist or a king" and dismissed the protests as "a joke". At the same time, he posted an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown.<ref name="Wise" />
Protest messaging also included references to political accountability and elite networks. Some demonstrators referenced the Jeffrey Epstein scandal in their signage, including placards depicting merged or juxtaposed imagery of Epstein and Trump, particularly in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Demonstrators gather during No Kings protest in Manhattan |url=https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/demonstrators-gather-during-no-kings-protest-in-manhattan/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMVpVTUEwMDA3OEtaVzc |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=reutersconnect.com |language=en}}</ref>
In some instances, protest-related unrest included symbolic acts such as flag burning. In Portland, demonstrators were documented burning a flag outside an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility following a “No Kings” protest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protesters break through gates Portland ice facility burn flags No Kings rally |url=https://www.live5news.com/2026/03/29/protesters-break-through-gates-portland-ice-facility-burn-flags-no-kings-rally/ |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=live5news.com |language=en |archive-date=2026-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260331040555/https://www.live5news.com/2026/03/29/protesters-break-through-gates-portland-ice-facility-burn-flags-no-kings-rally/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Rise Up, Sing Out== A "Rise Up, Sing Out" event has been scheduled for June 14, 2026, organized by No Kings and the Committee for the First Amendment, being described as "A Concert for the First Amendment". The 90-minute concert will occur on the same day as the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, and feature performances and appearances from Sasha Allen, Jane Fonda, Bette Midler, Joy Reid, Patti Smith and Rufus Wainwright.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rego |first1=Max |title=‘No Kings’ movement planning nationwide event on Trump 80th birthday |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5899878-no-kings-movement-protests-trump-birthday/ |access-date=29 May 2026 |work=The Hill |date=28 May 2026}}</ref>
The groups encourage local watch parties to connect with neighbors and "take meaningful action together".<ref>{{cite web |title=No Kings |url=https://www.nokings.org |website=No Kings |access-date=29 May 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.nokings.org/}}
{{US-poli-stub}}
Category:2025 in American politics Category:2026 in American politics Category:2025 protests Category:2026 protests Category:No Kings protests