Millions across the United States are expected to take to the streets in what has been dubbed the largest day of protest since Donald Trump’s second term began. As tanks and military personnel prepare to parade through Washington, over 2,000 peaceful demonstrations—ranging from large metropolitan areas to smaller towns—are scheduled to take place under the banner “No Kings.” Organised by a coalition of more than 100 groups, the protests aim to draw attention to the Trump administration’s increasing use of executive power, militarised crackdowns, and contentious immigration policies.
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Tensions escalated earlier this week when Trump deployed National Guard and US Marines to Los Angeles, bypassing state authority in a show of federal force not seen since the civil rights era. As a response, turnout in cities such as LA swelled, with demonstrators draped in American flags to counter accusations of “foreign allegiance.” Meanwhile, the tragic shooting of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota, one of whom died, added a sombre tone to Saturday’s events. Authorities in the state urged caution, advising against public gatherings amid fears of politically motivated violence.
In Republican-led states, officials pre-emptively moved to limit potential unrest. Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated his state’s National Guard, while Florida’s Ron DeSantis controversially defended the use of vehicles against protestors, citing self-defence. Critics argue that these tactics are intended to intimidate peaceful demonstrators. Rather than confront the military display in Washington directly, organisers chose Philadelphia for their flagship march. Meanwhile, a parallel event in D.C., labelled “Joy Day”, celebrated community and local identity without direct confrontation.
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The protest’s unifying message—“No thrones. No crowns. No kings.”—challenges what participants view as authoritarian overreach. Since Trump’s re-election, activism has intensified, with events spanning from Elon Musk’s business dealings to mass deportations and budget cuts. According to Harvard’s Crowd Counting Consortium, 2025 has already seen triple the protest activity of Trump’s first term. Their analysis highlights a historic level of civic engagement, reflecting the breadth of public discontent with the current administration.
