No Kings protests organized by Indivisible mobilized nearly 7 million people across the US in peaceful demonstrations against the Trump administration’s policies on immigration, healthcare, and executive power.
In an extraordinary display of public dissent, millions of Americans participated in coordinated No Kings protests across the United States on October 18, 2025, marking what organizers claim is the largest single-day demonstration against a sitting president in modern history. The massive mobilization represented the second wave of nationwide protests organized by the No Kings network, building on similar demonstrations that first emerged in June 2025 during President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday celebrations.
The No Kings protests unfolded against a backdrop of heightened political tensions, occurring during a federal government shutdown now in its third week and following months of controversial administration moves, including immigration raids, deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities, and sweeping cuts to federal programs. This article examines the unprecedented scale of these demonstrations, the diverse concerns that brought people into the streets, and the political implications of this historic civilian mobilization.
Unprecedented Scale and Peaceful Nature of No Kings Protests
The geographical spread and participant diversity of the No Kings protests represented one of the most striking aspects of the day’s events. Rather than concentrating solely in coastal urban centers, demonstrations took place in more than 2,700 locations across all 50 states, from major metropolitan areas to small rural towns . Organizers from Indivisible, the progressive group that spearheaded the mobilization, reported that nearly 7 million people participated nationwide—approximately 2 million more than attended the first round of protests in June .
Table: Selected City Participation Estimates
The peaceful character of the overwhelming majority of No Kings protests stood in sharp contrast to pre-event characterizations by some Republican officials who had labeled them “hate America rallies” . Police departments in multiple major cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, and Charlotte reported no protest-related arrests and thanked participants for maintaining orderly demonstrations . The atmosphere at many events was described as carnival-like, with marching bands, inflatable costumes, and street parties dominating the scene rather than confrontation .
Organizers and Core Messages Behind the No Kings Protests
The No Kings protests were primarily organized by Indivisible, a progressive grassroots organization, in coordination with more than 300 other advocacy groups . Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, co-founders of Indivisible, emphasized that the events were designed as patriotic expressions of civic engagement rather than anti-American displays. “There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” Levin stated in the aftermath of the demonstrations .
The American Civil Liberties Union supported the mobilization by providing legal training and de-escalation instruction to tens of thousands of volunteer marshals who attended the various marches . This preparation contributed significantly to the peaceful nature of the events and helped ensure that participants understood their rights and responsibilities during public demonstrations.
Several core themes emerged as unifying concerns among the diverse participants of the No Kings protests:
- Democratic Principles: Many protesters expressed alarm at what they perceive as the Trump administration’s erosion of democratic norms and expansion of executive power. “We’re a democracy. And that, in a democracy, people can stand up and voice their opinions. And that we are not going to be silenced,” Joan Press told CNN at an Atlanta protest .
- Immigration Policies: The administration’s immigration raids and deployment of federal agents featured prominently among protester concerns. In Los Angeles, which saw massive protests following immigration raids in June, demonstrators emphasized rights for immigrants and called for an end to the Trump administration’s deportation initiatives .
- Healthcare and Social Programs: Potential cuts to Medicaid and other federal health programs motivated many attendees. Danielle Guinto, a mother of two at the Chicago demonstration, expressed worry about “major federal changes to Medicaid and other health-related policies that could impact my children’s health” .
- Federal Workforce Reduction: The ongoing government shutdown and proposed cuts to the federal workforce brought many government employees and supporters to the protests. A furloughed federal worker named Monica told CNN that the “elimination of all these jobs are creating mass threats” to middle-class stability .
Political Reactions to the No Kings Protests
The No Kings protests elicited sharply divided responses from political leaders, reflecting the deep partisan divisions characterizing contemporary American politics.
Democratic and Supporter Responses
Prominent Democratic leaders and progressive figures openly supported the demonstrations. Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a keynote address in Washington, D.C., telling crowds, “We’re not here because we hate America, we’re here because we love America” . Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer framed the events as “an affirmation of what America is all about. We are a democracy” .
Notably, some participants expressed frustration with Democratic leadership even while opposing Trump administration policies. “I don’t have a lot of faith in the Democrats right now,” said Alex, a construction worker from northern Virginia who attended the D.C. protest. “They don’t seem to have a lot of spine or a single message. They’re just too disorganized to put up a good fight” .
Republican and Administration Responses
Republican leaders largely dismissed the significance of the No Kings protests or criticized them harshly in the days leading up to the events. House Speaker Mike Johnson repeatedly labeled them “hate America rallies” and suggested participants were aligned with “antifa types” and “Marxists” . In a Fox News interview, Johnson claimed, “It’s all the pro-Hamas wing and, you know, the antifa people” .
President Trump himself addressed the protests in a Fox Business interview aired before the events, stating, “they’re referring to me as a king—I’m not a king” . Rather than directly engaging with the substance of the protests, Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida . However, on Saturday evening, he posted a bizarre AI-generated video on Truth Social that depicted him wearing a crown and flying a “KING TRUMP” fighter jet that dropped brown liquid on protesters in what appeared to be Times Square .
The White House response to the massive turnout was dismissive. When asked about the protests, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded simply, “Who cares?” . This dismissive stance extended to the official White House social media accounts, which posted an image of Trump and Vice President JD Vance wearing crowns above Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries in sombreros .
International Solidarity and Global Reach
The No Kings protests inspired solidarity demonstrations in several international cities, highlighting how concerns about American democratic norms have captured global attention. Supporters gathered outside U.S. embassies and consulates in London, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, and Toronto to express support for their American counterparts .
In London, several hundred protesters assembled outside the U.S. Embassy , while in Toronto, demonstrators near the U.S. consulate waved signs including “Hands off Canada” . The international dimension of the protests underscored the global implications of domestic American political developments and demonstrated that concerns about democratic backsliding extend beyond U.S. borders.
Historical Context and Significance of the No Kings Movement
The No Kings protests represent the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and continue a tradition of large-scale public demonstrations that have characterized American political life in recent years . The movement takes inspiration from the revolutionary foundations of the United States, explicitly evoking the nation’s origin in rejecting monarchical rule .
The scale of participation—nearly 7 million people according to organizers—would make the October 18 demonstrations the largest single-day protest against a sitting president in modern U.S. history . This represents a significant expansion from the June protests, which already ranked among the largest political demonstrations in decades.
Professor Dana Fisher, a sociologist at American University who studies protest movements, predicted before the events that Saturday’s marches could see the largest protest turnout in modern U.S. history. She noted that while the protests were “not going to change Trump’s policies, but it might embolden elected officials at all levels who are in opposition to Trump” .
Conclusion: The Political Impact and Future of the No Kings Movement
The unprecedented turnout for the No Kings protests demonstrates the potent mobilization capacity of progressive grassroots networks and reflects deepening concerns about democratic governance under the Trump administration. While the immediate policy impacts may be limited, the movement has succeeded in creating a visible, peaceful counter-narrative to administration claims of widespread public support for its more controversial initiatives.
The broad geographical distribution of protests, extending deep into traditionally conservative regions, suggests that opposition to perceived authoritarian overreach is not confined to coastal liberal enclaves. The participation of military veterans, self-identified independents, and even some disaffected Republicans at various events indicates potential challenges to the administration’s base of support .
As the federal government shutdown continues and legal challenges to the administration’s immigration enforcement and troop deployments work through the courts, the political energy displayed in the No Kings protests may signal a reinvigorated opposition movement. Whether this mobilization translates into electoral impact or sustained political pressure remains uncertain, but the events of October 18 have undoubtedly created a new reference point for mass political demonstration in the United States.
The peaceful, festive character of the overwhelming majority of No Kings events, featuring costumes, music, and creative signage, represents a distinctive approach to political protest that contrasts with both the administration’s characterization of its opponents and with more confrontational protest traditions. This strategic nonviolence, combined with explicit patriotic framing, may offer a template for future political mobilization across ideological divides.