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In June of 2025, millions of Americans of every age peacefully took to the streets and declared in America there are no kings. The world witnessed the power of people and President Trump’s birthday parade was drowned out by protests in every state as well as countries across the globe. His attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation collapsed, and the story became about the strength of a movement rising up against his power grabs.
Four months later on October 18, 2025, more than 7 million United States citizens joined together in protest at more than 2,700 events in all 50 states, DC, and worldwide cities to say: America has no kings, power belongs to the people. What began in June as a single day of defiance has become a sustained nationwide resistance to tyranny, and has spread from smaller towns to booming cities across every community.
The overriding theme of the marches was the accusation that President Trump is behaving like a monarch rather than an elected official. Protesters showed up to oppose a wide range of issues, Trump administration’s immigration tactics and its push for federal and military intervention in Democratic-led states as a way to tackle crime. The concerns were voiced under the broader message of democracy, constitutional rights and the freedom from tyranny that the U.S. was founded on. The protests were mainly peaceful, police in New York City and Washington, D.C. where the rallies drew some of the largest crowds of the day, said no protest-related arrests were made.
Despite the many criticisms that No Kings protesters came to voice, there were many displays of optimism, hope and whimsy in several cities. People in Los Angeles, Hartford, Connecticut and elsewhere showed up to march in inflatable animal costumes, an idea that was inspired by protesters in Portland, Oregon. Supporters say the costumes lower tension and are able to draw attention peacefully. Many National protest organizers encouraged attendees to bring funny signs and wear silly costumes to keep the mood light during the event. Operation Inflation, an initiative that provides free, inflatable costumes to protesters, wrote in a social media post, “The greatest act of resistance in the face of darkness is radical joy.”
Protesters wear blow up costumes for the “No Kings” protest in Memphis, Tenn. on Oct. 18, 2025. Photo taken by Jan Sonnenmair.
During the No Kings protest, clothing, chants, and signs as they sought to remind people of the values America was founded on and against.
In Chicago, at Grant Park’s Butler Field, at least 10,000 people assembled, many carrying signs opposing federal immigration agents or mocking the Trump administration. A later crowd estimate by the Chicago Tribune put the number of protesters somewhere around 100,000. And more than 200,000 Washington DC area residents rallied near the US Capitol building.
Trump’s allies and administration have worked to cast the No Kings protests as anti-American saying they’re led by antifa, a decentralized anti-fascist movement, while also claiming that the protests are prolonging the government shutdown.
No Kings Day served as a reminder of the values this country was founded on and was a representation of how truly powerful the people are. (For more information about the government shutdown read my previous article.)
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Videos:
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Best moments of the ‘No Kings’ Rally across the United States.
Videos show ‘No Kings’ protests around the US and the world.
Millions of protests nationwide for No Kings Day.
Written:
“No Kings.” No Kings, www.nokings.org/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Wise, Alana, et al. “3 Takeaways from Saturday’s No Kings Nationwide Protests.” NPR, NPR, 19 Oct. 2025, www.npr.org/2025/10/19/nx-s1-5579042/no-kings-protests-takeaways.
“Millions across All 50 US States March in No Kings Protests against Trump.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Oct. 2025, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/18/no-kings-protests-events-states.
Shahin, Krys. “Why Are People Wearing Inflatable Costumes to Protests? | Khou.Com.” KHOU 11, 18 Oct. 2025, www.khou.com/article/news/nation-world/wearing-inflatable-costumes-protests/507-b841f764-006a-4fe9-89ed-6eb5a0e3c7bb.
