"No Kings" Protests at 2,500 Sites... Backlash Against Trump Administration Spreads Across U.S.

Rallies held in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere
Voters urged to participate... Midterm election impact in focus

The “No Kings” protests opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s governance were held across the United States on Saturday (local time). Organizers planned more than 2,500 events nationwide, and participants took to the streets carrying signs urging people to vote early.

On Saturday (local time), the Associated Press and other outlets reported that anti-Trump protests were held across the United States, including in Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles (LA). This time, smaller events in communities across the country were more prominent than large gatherings centered in major cities. Organizers said it was difficult to accurately tally the number of participants nationwide.

Participants march holding signs at the “No Kings” protest in New York. Yonhap News Agency

Protesters gathered with signs reading “Vote early” and “Don’t touch my right to vote,” among other messages, and chanted “No Kings.” The slogan “No Kings” means that the United States has no king and that the president, too, must be subject to the rule of law and democratic oversight.

Along with criticism of the Trump Administration, speakers at the rallies emphasized political participation to boost turnout in the November midterm elections. Rather than directly endorsing a party or candidate, the organizing groups urged voters to check which voting options were available to them, including early voting and voting by mail, and to participate in the elections. At a rally in Atlanta, City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond compared the power of the vote to that of a superhero and urged residents to go to the polls and exercise their rights.

This was the fourth nationwide protest in the No Kings movement, which began last year. The first rally was held on June 14, 2025, coinciding with President Trump’s birthday and an event marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s founding. The protests later expanded into a movement opposing major Trump Administration policies, including immigration enforcement, government budget cuts and the war in Iran.

Anti-Trump protest in Los Angeles (LA). Yonhap News.

Organizers estimated that previous rallies had drawn millions of participants. In particular, organizers announced that about 8 million people took part across all 50 states and overseas in the third rally, held on March 28 this year.

The latest protests are drawing attention as opposition to President Trump moves from street demonstrations to efforts to mobilize voters. Participants in the No Kings movement argue that the balance of power in Congress could shift in the November midterm elections, in which Republicans and Democrats will compete, and that voting can constrain the administration’s policies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.