Activists and advocacy teams are staging a second spherical of “No Kings” protests throughout the nation on Saturday in response to what they name abuse of energy by President Donald Trump and his administration, together with his immigration crackdown and his sending troops into American cities.
Organizers predict hundreds of thousands will participate.
Republicans are attempting to model the protests as “hate America” rallies and declare they’re prolonging the federal authorities shutdown.
Right here’s what to know.
President Donald Trump listens as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Patel delivers remarks throughout a press convention within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, October 15, 2025.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock
What are the “No Kings” protests?
The daylong “No Kings” protests set for Oct. 18 comply with up on the hundreds held in mid-June. They’re being run by a coalition of organizations together with the American Civil Liberties Union, Indivisible, 50501 and others. Organizers say there are greater than 2,600 occasions planned nationwide — together with main cities reminiscent of New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago and Los Angeles — and say hundreds of thousands are anticipated to attend.
They’ve been “organized by common individuals, by volunteers,” Deirdre Schifeling, chief political and advocacy officer of the ACLU, advised ABC Information.
Whereas organizers haven’t launched particulars on fundraising forward of the protests, and the coalition has remained comparatively decentralized, a couple of teams have indicated both heavy spending to advertise the rallies or deliberate star energy to extend buzz round them.
For example, Residence of the Courageous, a political group, stated Monday it was spending $1 million to promote the No Kings protests, together with in native and nationwide newspapers.
Individuals take part in a “No Kings” nationwide day of protest in New York, on Oct. 18, 2025.
Timothy A.c Clary/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Celebrities, together with Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Alan Cumming and John Leguizamo, are slated to attend, in line with a fundraising electronic mail on Thursday from the political motion committee Progressive Change Marketing campaign Committee.
“We’ll be within the streets for immigrant households below assault and for voters who’re being silenced. For communities being terrorized by militarized policing. For households who’re about to lose their medical health insurance. And for each single individual whose rights are threatened by this administration’s cruelty,” the group wrote within the electronic mail.
Prematurely of Saturday’s rallies, legislation enforcement is actively monitoring social media and the web, in addition to working with native organizers and potential counter-protesters, to get a way of what could be anticipated. That vigilance comes as there continues to be heightened issues about large-scale public gatherings, particularly political occasions.
What are Republicans saying in regards to the protests?
Republicans have been slamming the protests, claiming that the protests are a cause the Democratic Social gathering doesn’t wish to finish the continuing federal authorities shutdown.
A person dressed as former President Abraham Lincoln holding an American flag participates in a “No Kings” nationwide day of protest in Washington, D.C.,, on Oct. 18, 2025.
Amid Farahi/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Senate Majority Chief John Thune asserted on Wednesday that Democrats are ready to resolve the funding points till after Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies.
“The reality is — what Democrats actually need is one thing Republicans cannot give them. And that’s the approval of their far-left base,” Thune stated.
Republican leaders have additionally framed the “No Kings” protests as a collection of “Hate America” rallies, framing the upcoming occasions as meant to criticize America and what it stands for.
“And I encourage you to observe — we name it the ‘Hate America Rally’ that can occur Saturday,” Home Speaker Mike Johnson advised reporters on Wednesday. “Let’s have a look at who reveals up for that. I guess you see pro-Hamas supporters. I guess you see Antifa sorts. I guess you see the Marxists in full show, the individuals who do not wish to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.”
1000’s of individuals attend ‘No Kings Day’ protests towards the Trump administration in New York Metropolis, June 14, 2025.
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs
Johnson didn’t present any proof to help his claims that “pro-Hamas supporters” and “Antifa sorts” will present up. Organizers have stated they can not management who reveals as much as protests from exterior teams and have emphasised wanting to maintain protests respectful and nonviolent.
In an interview taped with Fox Information’ Maria Bartiromo on Thursday, Trump was requested in regards to the rallies and he shot down that he was a “king.”
“They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump stated.
Some state leaders have additionally stated they’re calling up extra legislation enforcement in gentle of the protests, which supporters of the protests have stated could also be meant to “suppress” them.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, wrote on X on Thursday, that he “directed the Dept. of Public Security and Nationwide Guard to surge forces into Austin” forward of the rallies.
“Texas will NOT tolerate chaos. Anybody destroying property or committing acts of violence shall be swiftly arrested,” Abbott wrote.
State Rep. Gene Wu, who chairs the state Home’s Democratic caucus, wrote in response, “Sending armed troopers to suppress peaceable protests is what kings and dictators do — and Greg Abbott simply proved he’s considered one of them.”
How are protest organizers responding to Republican claims?
Organizers have countered that Republicans in energy are accountable for the continuing shutdown, and have stated that Johnson and another Republicans not saying the identify of the protest is telling.
“I believe it is actually telling that he spent a complete week calling this a ‘hate American Rally,’ on the assault towards this coalition and People throughout the nation, and he will not even say the identify of the protest,” Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, one of many main teams within the “No Kings” coalition, advised reporters on a press name on Thursday.
“That is as a result of for those who say the identify of the protest, ‘No Kings,’ the whole argument falls aside … there may be nothing extra American than saying that we do not have kings and exercising our proper to peaceable protest,” Greenberg stated.
When requested in the event that they thought the claims from Republicans would affect participant turnout on Saturday, organizers stated they assume it might have the other impact.
“I believe, if something, it would enhance turnout,” stated Schifeling. “I believe People can actually see by these unhappy makes an attempt to distract consideration from the failure of those Republican Congress individuals and Republican Trump administration to really deal with what most People need and want from their authorities.”
Protestors march throughout an anti-Trump “No Kings Day” demonstration in a metropolis that has been the main target of protests towards Trump’s immigration raids, June 14, 2025 in downtown Los Angeles.
Jay L Clendenin/Getty Photographs
Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of Indivisible, advised ABC Information that he welcomes the publicity, however concurrently believes Republicans are attempting to cease People from exercising their First Modification proper.
“I believe the Republicans and Trump see that the biggest peaceable protest in fashionable American historical past is coming collectively on Saturday to push again towards the authoritarian overreach by this regime and its supporters in Congress, they usually’re in search of methods to message towards it forward of time,” he stated.
ABC Information’ Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
