Washington/New York/Miami (EFE).- Thousands of people rallied in cities across the United States, including New York, Washington, and Miami, under the slogan “No Kings” on Saturday to protest what they perceive as US President Donald Trump’s growing authoritarianism.
Demonstrations were held simultaneously in over 2,500 cities and municipalities across all 50 states, aiming to be the largest protest since Trump’s return to power in January 2025.
It is the second “No Kings” mobilization, following the one held on Jun. 14, which coincided with the president’s birthday and, according to organizers, drew some five million people.
The new day of protests takes place amid growing political tension, marked by Trump’s decision to deploy military personnel in cities led by the Democratic opposition to combat crime and support immigration enforcement.
Notable gathering points included Times Square in New York, the Capitol in Washington, and downtown Chicago, where protests against immigration raids have occurred in recent weeks.
Protests were also planned in other major cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Honolulu, Houston, Nashville, New Orleans, San Diego, and San Francisco.
Additionally, demonstrations in solidarity took place in European capitals, including Berlin, Paris, and Rome, on Saturday.
The protests bring together a wide variety of demands, ranging from opposition to immigration raids and healthcare cuts to rejection of the militarization of cities and modifications to electoral districts that would ensure a Republican victory in the 2026 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, Trump is spending the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida with no official agenda and plans to return to Washington on Sunday.
A peaceful call
The convening platform, which gathers approximately 200 organizations, emphasized the peaceful nature of the mobilization and reiterated the prohibition of weapons.
However, several Republican leaders warned of possible disturbances. The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, a Trump ally, ordered the deployment of the National Guard in Austin to prevent violence.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, described the demonstrations as “hate America” rallies, led, he said, by Hamas sympathizers and members of the anti-fascist movement (Antifa), which Trump recently declared a terrorist group.
The “No Kings” movement’s name alludes to the perception that the president acts like a monarch. It also recalls that the US was founded in 1776 on the rejection of absolute monarchical power.
“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Friday.
The president also suggested that Democrats delayed budget negotiations to reopen the federal government, which has been shut down since Oct. 1 due to a lack of funds, to encourage the protests.
Democrats accuse Trump of endangering the First Amendment, which protects freedom of expression, by attempting to silence protests and stifle criticism.
One of the most symbolic events occurred when the White House pressured ABC to cancel Jimmy Kimmel Live! for mocking the Republican reaction to the assassination of ultraconservative activist and Trump associate Charlie Kirk in September.
Kimmel’s show returned to the air after a week-long suspension. On Thursday, Kimmel compared the “No Kings” movement to the American Revolution that culminated in the country’s independence.
“There is nothing more American than a political protest. The American Revolution was a ‘No Kings’ protest,” Kimmel said in his monologue. EFE
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