Millions March in ‘No Kings 2’ Protests Across America
The Power of the People
In a stunning display of civic dissent, millions of Americans flooded the streets of cities and towns across all 50 states on Saturday, October 18, 2025, for the “No Kings 2” protests, decrying what they view as a dangerous slide into authoritarianism.[1][2] From the bustling heart of New York’s Times Square to smaller gatherings in the nation’s heartland, the message was unified: a defense of democratic principles against a perceived monarchical presidency.[1][2] In downtown Los Angeles, tens of thousands of demonstrators transformed Grand Park into a vibrant sea of protest, punctuated by a towering 20-foot inflatable of Donald Trump in a diaper.[3][4]
An estimated 7 million people participated in the “No Kings 2” protest marches that took place in approximately 2,700 locations across all 50 states on Saturday, October 18, 2025.[1][2] This massive turnout is considered to be the largest single-day protest in American history.[1][2]
The demonstrations took place in major cities, suburbs, and small towns, with significant crowds reported in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Chicago.[2] For instance, in Washington, D.C., organizers estimated an attendance of 200,000 people.[1] In New York City, authorities reported that over 100,000 people marched from Times Square.[1][3] Even in smaller cities like Hartford, Connecticut, an estimated 12,000 people gathered at the state Capitol.[4]
The nationwide event was a coordinated effort by a coalition of about 200 organizations, including Indivisible, MoveOn, the ACLU, 50501, and the Democratic Socialists of America.[1] The protests were a direct response to the policies and actions of the Trump administration, which demonstrators argue are leading the country toward authoritarianism.[1][5]
While House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the nationwide demonstrations as “Hate America” rallies populated by “Marxists, the Socialists, the Antifa advocates, the anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the far-left Democrat Party,” participants on the ground painted a different picture.[10][11] In many cities, the protests had a street-party atmosphere, with marching bands and demonstrators in whimsical inflatable costumes, a trend that began in Portland, Oregon.[1][12] The rallies were overwhelmingly peaceful, a stark contrast to the administration’s rhetoric.[12][13]
The backdrop to this massive mobilization is a nation grappling with a government shutdown, now in its third week, which has left approximately 900,000 federal employees furloughed.[2][14] The legislative deadlock is deeply entwined with the administration’s controversial policies, most notably the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4, 2025.[15]
The OBBBA, designed to fund significant tax cuts, includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.[15][16] The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that these cuts will cause approximately 11.8 million Americans to lose their health insurance.[17] The legislation also allowed for the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which is projected to cause insurance premiums to double for many, adding another 4 million people to the ranks of the uninsured.[17] In total, the CBO estimates that the number of uninsured Americans will rise by 17 million by 2034 due to the bill’s provisions.[17]
The protests were also fueled by a series of actions from the Trump administration that critics say undermine the Constitution and the rule of law. Since the start of his second term, the president has issued numerous executive orders that have been challenged in court, including attempts to end birthright citizenship.[18][19][20] The administration has also deployed National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities to address protests and aid in immigration enforcement.[21]
Peaceful protests in cities like Portland and Chicago have been labeled “insurrections” by the President, who has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy more troops, a move that has been legally challenged by state and local officials.[22][23] The use of often-masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in military-style raids has also been a significant point of contention for the protestors.[12][21] Chants to “abolish ICE” were common at the rallies, and in Los Angeles, thousands gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center.[2][24]
Concerns over what Senator Bernie Sanders, speaking to the crowd in Washington D.C., called the rise of an oligarchy were also central to the protests.[2][21] The senator pointed to the immense wealth and influence of billionaires such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.[21] Recent figures from early 2025 show that the combined wealth of these three individuals is equivalent to that of the entire bottom 50% of the U.S. population.[25] As of October 2025, Forbes listed Musk’s net worth at $428 billion, Zuckerberg’s at $253 billion, and Bezos’ at $241 billion.[26][27]
The “No Kings” protests, in their scale and breadth, represent a powerful public rebuke to the direction of the country. While the Trump administration and its allies have sought to frame the demonstrations as unpatriotic, the millions who participated on Saturday did so under the banner of loving America and fighting for the democratic ideals upon which it was founded. The day of action may be over, but for the many who marched, it was declared to be just the beginning.
Now is the time to build on this momentum. The energy of the streets must be channeled into sustained action. Register to vote, and ensure your friends, family, and neighbors are registered too. Contact your elected officials at every level—local, state, and federal—and demand they represent the will of the people, not the interests of a powerful few. Support the organizations on the front lines, defending civil liberties and fighting for a more just and equitable society. Stay informed, stay engaged, and continue to make your voice heard. This is not a moment, but a movement. The fight to preserve our democracy is ongoing, and it requires the active participation of every citizen who believes in the promise of America.
References:
1. The Hindu. (2025, October 19). ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump across U.S. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/no-kings-protests-against-trump-nationwide/article70181727.ece
2. Al Jazeera. (2025, October 19). Millions of US protesters hold anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/10/19/photos-millions-of-us-protesters-hold-anti-trump-no-kings-rallies
3. Los Angeles Times. (2025, October 18). SoCal ‘No Kings’ protests draw tens of thousands alongside massive crowds nationwide. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-18/no-kings-day-protests-getting-underway-across-southern-california
4. Los Angeles Times. (2025, October 19). Photos: ‘No Kings’ protests. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-19/photos-no-kings-protests
5. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October). No Kings protests (October 2025). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Kings_protests_(October_2025)
6. Time. (2025, October 19). ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump draw huge crowds across U.S. Time. https://time.com/7326801/no-kings-protests-near-me-trump/
7. Connecticut Public. (2025, October 18). ‘No Kings’ rallies draw 12,000 to Capitol, thousands across CT. Connecticut Public. https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-10-18/no-kings-rallies-draw-12-000-to-capitol-thousands-across-ct
8. The Guardian. (2025, October 18). Millions across all 50 US states march in No Kings protests against Trump. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/18/no-kings-protests-events-states
9. Anadolu Agency. (2025, October 18). US House speaker criticizes ‘No Kings’ protests, calls event ‘Hate America Rally’. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-house-speaker-criticizes-no-kings-protests-calls-event-hate-america-rally/3719970
10. Times of India. (2025, October 18). ‘No Kings’ protests: Mike Johnson slams rallies as gathering of ‘anarchists’; calls it ‘Hate America Rally’. Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/no-kings-protests-mike-johnson-slams-rallies-as-gathering-of-anarchists-calls-it-hate-america-rally/articleshow/124685948.cms
11. Oregon Public Broadcasting. (2025, October 19). 3 takeaways from Saturday’s No Kings nationwide protests. OPB. https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/19/no-kings-day-a-recap-of-the-mass-anti-trump-protests/
12. IndoPremier. (2025, October 18). Protesters out in force for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies across US. IndoPremier. https://www.indopremier.com/ipotnews/newsDetail.php?jdl=Protesters_out_in_force_for_anti_Trump__No_Kings__rallies_across_US&news_id=1705898
13. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October). 2025 United States federal government shutdown. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_federal_government_shutdown
14. Urban Institute. (2025, October 10). Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act leave 3 in 10 young adults vulnerable to losing health care access. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/medicaid-cuts-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-leave-3-10-young-adults-vulnerable-losing
15. Center for American Progress. (2025, October 12). The truth about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-truth-about-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-acts-cuts-to-medicaid-and-medicare/
16. UC Berkeley School of Public Health. (2025, October 15). What do the looming cuts to Medicaid really mean? UC Berkeley Public Health. https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/news/commentary/what-do-cuts-to-medicaid-really-mean
17. Cohen, S. (2025). Tracking the Trump administration’s harmful executive actions. Congressman Steve Cohen. https://cohen.house.gov/TrumpAdminTracker
18. National Immigration Law Center. (2025, January 21). Trump’s Day 1 executive orders: Unconstitutional, illegal, and cruel. NILC. https://www.nilc.org/articles/analysis-of-trump-day-1-executive-orders-unconstitutional-illegal-and-cruel/
19. Verfassungsblog. (2025, October 5). Trump’s counter-constitution. Verfassungsblog. https://verfassungsblog.de/trumps-counter-constitution/
20. El País. (2025, October 7). Trump considers invoking Insurrection Act to send troops to Portland. El País English. https://english.elpais.com/usa/2025-10-07/trump-considers-invoking-insurrection-act-to-send-troops-to-portland.html
21. The Guardian. (2025, October 5). Trump news at a glance: President authorizes sending national guard into Chicago as judge blocks Portland deployment. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/05/trump-news-at-a-glance-president-authorizes-sending-national-guard-into-chicago-as-judge-blocks-portland-deployment
22. CBS Los Angeles. (2025, October 18). Dozens of Los Angeles “No Kings” protests draw crowds across city. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/los-angeles-no-kings-protests-october/
23. YouTube. (2025, October 10). How the wealth of America’s three richest individuals stacks up against the rest of the country [Video]. YouTube.
24. Charlotte Observer. (2025, October 12). North Carolina billionaires make 2025 Forbes 400 list. Charlotte Observer. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article312453658.html
25. Forbes. (2025). The Forbes 400 list 2025: The richest people in America ranked. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/
26. Charlotte Observer. (2025, October 12). North Carolina billionaires make 2025 Forbes 400 list. Charlotte Observer. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article312453658.html
27. Forbes. (2025). The Forbes 400 list 2025: The richest people in America ranked. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/