No Kings protests: how the rallies went down in Miami, New York, Los Angeles…
Protesters across the U.S. and the globe took to the streets against Trump administration policies.
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No Kings Day 2.0 protests
No Kings protest in Houston, Texas
Large crowds turned out in Houston, Texas, for the No Kings Day protests. Here are some pictures from the event.
Boise, Idaho turns out in force for No Kings Day
Over 2,500 events were planned for No Kings Day 2.0. It was estimated that around 5 million Amerians would take to the streets to protest Trump's policies as president.
Elizabeth Warren: "Donald Trump is weak"
Donald Trump is weak. He’s a bully. And when we won’t bow down to kings or to bullies, they start to lose their power.
The American people do not bow down.
There is only One King
Protestors across the nation are having fun at the No Kings rallies getting dressed up in costume. One common theme, Elvis Presley, the one and only king.
No Kings protest in Los Angeles fills the streets
An ariel view of the No Kings protest in Los Angeles showed the streets filled with demonstrators. Organizers were expecting over 100,000 people to attend the march.
Cory Booker "It has to be about everyday Americans"
Cory Booker shared a short video of the No Kings protest in Washington DC. He said that the people were there to send a message that what President Trump is doing "is abolutely wrong." That the work of a government "has to be about everyday Americans."
Multitude march in San Diego 'No Kings' protest
Frogs against Kings
Frogs have become one of the symbols of resistance since the Portland protests against ICE made colorful inflatable animals a feature of their demostrations,
No Kings protest in Nashville, Tennessee
Like many other cities across the US, thousands came out for the No Kings protest in Nashville, Tennessee.
"No Kings, Yes on 50" in California
No Kings protestors on San Francisco's Ocean Beach made a human sign which read "No Kings, Yes on 50." The last is in reference to Prop 50 that would temporarily allow for redistricting of the state's congressional districts in response to Texas and other Republican states changing theirs to deny Democrats gaining control of Congress in the 2026 elections. It will be on the ballot in a special election on 4 November.
It wouldn't be a protest without the signs
Protesters at the 'No Kings' rallies across the nation have once again been creative with their signs. While this one is a repeat from the 14 June march, it's been updated with some new photos.
World War II veteran says "No George III, No Donald I"
Across the United States, young and old alike are protesting Donald Trump's policies.
Big 'No Kings' in small town
Multitudes of Americans have been coming out across the nation in large cities and small, like this on in Brenham, Texas, population 20,000.
Sign mocking idea that protestors are paid
President Trump has often claimed that people are being paid to protest his policies. However, one No Kings protestor in Washington DC put a nice spin on that idea.
"At This Point, You'd Have to Pay Me Not to Protest."
Bill Nye speaks out against Trump administration at Washington protest
“We are here to tell our lawmakers that what’s going on in our government is wrong. They must stop the abuses of this petulant president and his circle of sycophants."
“Although the United States has been the world’s leader in science for decades, this president and the members of his Cabinet even fail to accept scientific facts.
NYPD confirms that the No Kings protesters were peaceful
Despite some concerns about the potential for violence, the New York Police Department has confirmed that today's protests in the city passed without criminal incident. It will be a big relief for organizers of the protests who would have been eager to avoid any criminality.
Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks at Chicago's Grant Park
Crowds flocked to Grant Park in Chicago as part of the day's 'No Kings' protests and heard an impassioned speech by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“When the people are united, justice always prevails,” said Mayor Johnson.
“Donald Trump is using ICE as his private, militarized occupying force,” he continued. “But we are saying emphatically clear: we do not want troops in our city.”
Bernie Sanders thanks 'No Kings' protesters
Sen. Bernie Sanders has been one of the most visible Democrats during the second term of President Donald Trump and he spoke to supporters as part of today's 'No Kings' protests across the country. Writing on social media, Sanders thanked those involved for their participation.
New York City hosts huge 'No Kings' protest march
Protesters take to the streets in NYC for what has, so far, been a peaceful protest. Earlier in the day the New York Police Department had issued a strongly-worded statement online, warning against any form of law-breaking on the march.
"The NYPD will be out across the city to make sure everyone can peacefully and safely exercise their first amendment right," a social media post said. "As a reminder, there will be zero tolerance for any illegal activity or anyone who breaks the law."
The follow-up rally to the wildly successful first event in June has even more locations, over 2,500, registered to hold peaceful marches. There won’t just be protests in the United States but also thirteen other countries in solidarity with their American counterparts.
Here's the full list...
Crowds gather in Washington, DC
This is the scene on the ground in Washington, DC, where large crowds are gathering for the the 'No Kings' protests.
Team Trump hits back on social media
Never afraid to court controversy, President Donald Trump's campaign team are not shying away from the 'No Kings' debate. The 'Trump War Room' is described as the "political operation" for the Make America Great Again movement.
No Kings protests go global
Here's the latest from Nice, in the south of France.
As well as France, we've also seen hundreds of No Kings protests rallying in London and Madrid, as well as other major cities such as Berlin, Rome, and Paris.
Meanwhile, as the world protests the United States' move towards authoritarianism, Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
Trump's political decisions are having an effect at every level of society, and his second go as president has seen the power of the US passport sink to historically weak levels.
In 2014, the US passport was the strongest in the world. It now ranks 12th, alongside Malaysia, with both countries offering visa-free access to 180 destinations. This marks the first time in 20 years that the United States has fallen outside the top 10.
Henley & Partners President Christian Kaelin noted that these changes, while seemingly minor, can have significant consequences. “The decline in the strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffling of rankings,” he said. “It signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are moving forward, while those that rely on past privileges are falling behind.”
Famous faces speaking at the protests
Bill Nye the Science Guy is set to take to the stage in DC today, alongside some other top names including Senator Bernie Sanders and Zeteo editor Mehdi Hasan.
Trump arch nemesis has also made his feelings clear
Gavin Newsom, California's Governor, has urged the protesters to take to the streets in a peaceful manner and use the opportunity of the protests to make a "declaration of independence against the tyranny and lawlessness currently running this country."
Leaked messages from the from Young Republican leaders' private messaging groups showed racist, antisemitic and violent fantasies.
Vance chose not to get involved, refusing to take a stance on the simply abhorrent instances of hate speech made public. He's a copy of his supreme leader, and will not acknowledge anything that goes against the image they try to project of the political landscape in the U.S.
Kimmel on the protests
Like him or loathe him, seeing Jimmy Kimmel taken off the air was a scary moment for free speech in the United States, and having him back is a step in the right direction.
Now, the TV host has had his say on the No Kings protests, making it clear that "there is nothing more American than a political protest."
The fun continues in Birmingham, Alabama
Protesters are out peacefully demonstrating their defense of democracy and disappointment with Trump and his administration.
Who’d have thunk it? It turns out that Trump’s commitment to lower prices for ordinary Americans was all talk and no trousers.
When Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency in 2024, one of his many promises was to lower grocery prices immediately upon taking office. Alas, that pledge has not materialised, along with many others he seems to have forgotten about as he plunges the United States into authoritarian rule.
The data tells a crystal clear story of how Trump’s economic plan is going: over the 12 months leading into July 2025, food prices in the U.S. rose by about 2.9 percent — steeper than the broader inflation rate of 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, core inflation rose near 3.1 percent.
Get the full story on just how Trump's promises haven't come to fruition.
People are jealous of the Portland protests!
We had giraffes, pandas, and a simply hilarious number of funny frogs, all of which seem to have inspired the public across the country to see the funny side of things during the No Kings protests.
I'm all for an army of peaceful frogs marching through the streets of the major cities in the US in an over-the-top recreation of Noah's ark.
Some Trump voters are expressing their reservations over their decision to vote for the U.S. president in last November’s election.
In fact, over half of young Trump voters who took part in a recent NBC News survey say they are unhappy with the president’s performance, highlighting their discontent with his policies in areas such as immigration and tariffs.
Of fourteen people surveyed, nine said they disapproved of the job Trump has done since returning to the White House in January, NBC revealed - although only one said they would change their vote in last year’s presidential election.
According to statistics compiled by Pew Research Center, Trump accrued 39% of the vote among Americans in the 18-29 age category in 2024, four percentage points up from his 2020 defeat to Joe Biden.
Remember, if you want to get involved or avoid the protests, this is the place to find the interactive map that shows all the action up and down the country.
According to the official No Kings website, the goal is to show the world “what democracy really looks like. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind."
New Yorkers are out and about
New Yorkers are showing up and standing up. Huge protest at Times Square to defend democracy
Creative No Kings signs
As you might expect, there are some weird, wonderful, woeful and wacky signs on display at rallies across the country. We'll share some of the most eye-catching with you, whether they have had a hard-hitting, serious message, or are a little lighter in tone.
Senator Bernie Sanders' message
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is speaking at the No Kings protest in Washington DC, and his a simple message for attendees: "People fought and died throughout the history of this country to preserve our democracy. And we're not going to let Trump or anyone else take it away."
The fun continues in Florida
Marchers are having a great time in Clearwater celebrating democracy and standing up against Trump and his administration.
Protestors gather in Connecticut
Approximately 1,000 protestors have got together in Middletown, Connecticut, where faith leaders, veterans and elected officials have spoken out against President Trump.
No King's protest or a fancy dress party?
It's a little bit of both outside the U.S. Embassy in Dublin it seems. In addition to protests taking place all across the United States, there's also plenty going on elsewhere, with rallies scheduled in 13 other countries, Ireland included.
Trump's name-calling "normalizing bullying"
Just in case you've been living on the moon and are wondering how it all got to this, how long have you got? Trump's use of language may not be the first thing that springs to mind, but it's something that many are concerned will have a negative effect on younger generations.
Therapists have warn that the normalization of name-calling, mean spiritedness and othering practiced by President Trump and his administration is having a trickle-down effect on society as a whole. That it is sending the message that it is okay to behave badly, to treat other people with disrespect and goes contrary to what the majority of people have tried to teach their children before his rise to the highest position in America.
Protests are getting underway in Florida
Protesters begin to gather in Orlando to rally against the Trump Administration and to peacefully send out a message in defense of democracy.
No Kings in London
There is, of course, a king in London - King Charles III. Not everybody is that enamored with him either, although that's a story for another day. In any case, many people there are referring to the rally against Trump as a "No Tyrant" protest so the message doesn't get confused. Protestors have begun gathering outside the U.S. Embassy in the English capital.
A mesage to combat No Kings fear
Too afraid to attend a No Kings protest? "Think deeply about what that says about our country and our current circumstances," ponders Georgia Recorder journalist and author Jay Bookman. "Your fear is the best possible argument going."
First No Kings 2.0 protests underway
The first rallies of the second round of 2025 No Kings protests are underway, with the start time set for 10:00 a.m. ET in Atlanta, Miami and Oklahoma City. There are, of course, also others that get going early in plenty of other locations, including Chattanooga, Tennessee, where lots of protestors are already making their voices heard.
No Kings protest abroad
Protesters in Berlin show their support to Americans in front of the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Countries standing in solidarity with No Kings 2.0
The follow-up rally to the wildly successful first event in June has even more locations, over 2,500, registered to hold peaceful marches. There won’t just be protests in the United States but also 13 other countries in solidarity with their American counterparts.
According to the No Kings website, these are the countries with rallies planned:
- Austria
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Mexico
- Panama
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Kamala Harris' No Kings message
Kamala Harris was defeated by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections, but she hasn't stopped fighting against the Republic president.
"In our country, the power is with the people," she said on X. "Tomorrow, October 18, I encourage everyone to get out there in peaceful protest at what is happening in our country, and express our voice around the country we believe in. Get out there and join the No Kings event near you, and please take care."
Sign ideas for the No Kings protest
One of the features of the 14 June event was the creative and humorous signs that people were carrying around. While you could just buy one on Amazon or Etsy, if you are looking to put your own personal feel into the message you want to send, the internet has you covered. You'll have to be fast, though.
You can check out a feed on Reddit to see some people's favorites or there is also a 50501 Facebook page that posted ones that stood out for its members.
Looking to get together with some people to make your sign? Well groups like the League of Women Voters and Indivisible were holding sign-making events in the runup to the No Kings protest on Saturday 18 October.
Greg has more here.
Senator Bernie Sanders heading to Washington
Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut has revealed he will be going along to the protest scheduled for Washington DC with Vermont counterpart Bernie Sanders, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, who he has described as a “right-wing oligarchy.”
“Big day tomorrow,” Murphy posted on X. “Don’t let Trump’s authoritarian crowd bully you into silence. This is our moment to stand up for our democracy and against his corruption. I will be with BernieSanders at the DC rally.”
What time do the No Kings protests begin on October 18?
It short, it depends where you are. The earliest rallies, including those in Miami and Atlanta, began at 10:00 a.m. ET. The biggest protest this time is expected to take place in New York and gets going at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Here’s a helpful list of when some of the main rallies get underway, and from where they will begin.
Robert De Niro explains the history of No Kings
Roberto De Niro, we can only assume from this X post, will be one of the celebrities heading along to a No Kings protest. The veteran actor has also supplied us with a little bit of No Kings history, which dates back quite a long way.
“The original No Kings protest was 250 years ago. Americans decided they didn’t want to live under the rule of King George III. They declared their independence and fought a bloody war for democracy. We’ve had two and a half centuries of democracy since then. Often challenging, sometimes messy, always essential. And we’ve fought in two World Wars to preserve it. Now we have a would-be king who wants to take it away. King Donald I - fuck that.”
No Kings 2.0 protests near me: Interactive map
The protests are today, but it’s still not too late to join in even if you haven’t made any plans to do so already. An interactive map is now live, which shows the nearest protest events by ZIP code. You can search your city, sign up to attend, or even register a new event if there isn’t one nearby.
From Los Angeles to Louisville, protests are planned in every state. In some places, it’ll be a few hundred people with signs; in others, full-scale rallies with speakers, music, and flag-waving – though not the kind Trump prefers.
Rachel Wisniewski / REUTERS
How many people attended the No Kings protests in June?
According to organizers, an estimated five million people participated in protests in more than 2,100 cities and towns in the United States and its territories, as well as plenty more in 20 foreign countries, including Canada and Mexico. In June, the flagship rally took place in Philadelphia, where approximately 100,000 protesters gathered.
What are the No Kings protests?
In June, millions of activists across the U.S. gathered for “No Kings” protests in all 50 states, in what was called a “nationwide day of defiance.” Their message? The United States doesn’t have kings – and people need to remind the current administration that public officials hold office to serve the public and not themselves.
Launched by the 50501 Movement and a coalition of progressive groups, the protests are described as a grassroots pushback against what organizers say is Trump’s “authoritarian spectacle.” The name refers to “50 protests, 50 states, one movement.”
According to the official No Kings website, the goal is to show the world “what democracy really looks like.”
“We’re building a movement that leaves him behind,” the organizers say. Events will take place in parks, on courthouse steps, in town squares and on Main Streets all over the country.
Celebrity support helped spread the word in June, with Chrissy Teigen among the most vocal. In a widely shared Instagram post, she accused Trump of “acting like a king” and urged Americans to show up and reject “arbitrary decrees and disregard for checks and balances.”
No Kings 2.0 protests: Hello and welcome
Hello and welcome to AS USA’s live coverage of the second round of No Kings protests, four months after the initial 2025 demonstrations in June. Protestors across the United States, and worldwide, are taking to the streets today, Saturday October 18 to rally against perceived authoritarian policies of US President Donald Trump and corruption in his administration.
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