Millions Rally Nationwide in ‘No Kings Day’ Protests Against Trump

                'No Kings' protest taking place with banners and signs through US city alongside inflatable Trump

In one of the largest coordinated demonstrations in U.S. history, millions of Americans took to the streets on October 18 for the second wave of “No Kings Day” rallies, aimed at protesting President Donald Trump’s policies and what organizers describe as a slide toward authoritarianism.

From New York’s Times Square to Los Angeles boulevards, and in more than 2,500 cities across all 50 states, demonstrators carried signs reading “Resist Fascism” and “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting.” Organizers estimate nearly seven million people participated nationwide, with solidarity marches also reported in cities around the world.

The rallies, which coincided with a prolonged government shutdown and heightened immigration enforcement, were marked by a festive yet defiant atmosphere. Marching bands, giant banners featuring the U.S. Constitution’s preamble, and even inflatable costumes turned many protests into street festivals. In Washington, D.C., scientists, activists, and public figures addressed crowds of more than 200,000, urging vigilance in defense of democratic institutions.

While Republican leaders dismissed the events as “Hate America rallies,” participants framed them as a patriotic stand for the First Amendment and a rejection of unchecked executive power. Organizers vowed that the “No Kings” movement would continue to mobilize until, in their words, “democracy is secured for all.”