A demonstrator waves a flag during a rally at the Lincoln Memorial on October 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. A rally was organized by non-profit Indivisible, ahead of the "No Kings" protest in Washington on October 18. ANNA ROSE LAYDEN / AFP
Rallies from New York to San Francisco under the "No Kings" banner on Saturday, October 18, will gauge public anger at President Donald Trump's barnstorming second term, months after a previous day of action brought millions to the streets. "The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don't have kings and we won't back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty," the "No Kings" movement – which unites some 300 organizations – says on its website. More than 2,700 demonstrations are planned coast to coast, from big cities to small towns, and even near Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he will spend the weekend. Organizers say they are expecting millions to attend.
Millions attended rallies on June 14 after Trump ordered the deployment of troops to Los Angeles, a move that led critics to accuse him of acting like a dictator. It was the biggest day of demonstrations since the Republican billionaire returned to the White House in January. Trump in June had promised to use "very big force" if protesters attempted to disrupt the army parade in the US capital. In the months since, he has expanded the deployments of troops to US cities, outraging critics. An ongoing government shutdown is in its third week, with the Trump administration firing thousands of federal workers and lawmakers showing little sign they are ready to break the impasse.
