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 thousands and thousands will participate.
Republicans try 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 observe up on the 1000’s 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 resembling New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago and Los Angeles — and say thousands and thousands are anticipated to attend.
They’ve been “organized by common folks, 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 number of teams have indicated both heavy spending to advertise the rallies or deliberate star energy to extend buzz round them.
As an example, House of the Courageous, a political group, mentioned 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 Photos
Celebrities, together with Jane Fonda, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Alan Cumming and John Leguizamo, are slated to attend, in keeping with a fundraising e-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 insurance. And for each single particular person whose rights are threatened by this administration’s cruelty,” the group wrote within the e-mail.
Upfront of Saturday’s rallies, regulation 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 may be anticipated. That vigilance comes as there continues to be heightened considerations about large-scale public gatherings, particularly political occasions.
What are Republicans saying concerning 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 continued 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 Photos
Senate Majority Chief John Thune asserted on Wednesday that Democrats are ready to unravel the funding points till after Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies.
“The reality is — what Democrats really need is one thing Republicans cannot give them. And that’s the approval of their far-left base,” Thune mentioned.
Republican leaders have additionally framed the “No Kings” protests as a sequence 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 examine 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 Photos
Johnson didn’t present any proof to assist his claims that “pro-Hamas supporters” and “Antifa sorts” will present up. Organizers have mentioned they can’t management who reveals as much as protests from outdoors 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 concerning 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 mentioned.
Some state leaders have additionally mentioned they’re calling up extra regulation enforcement in gentle of the protests, which supporters of the protests have mentioned 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 one in all them.”
How are protest organizers responding to Republican claims?
Organizers have countered that Republicans in energy are answerable for the continued shutdown, and have mentioned 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 Individuals 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 should you say the identify of the protest, ‘No Kings,’ all the 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 mentioned.
When requested in the event that they thought the claims from Republicans would affect participant turnout on Saturday, organizers mentioned they assume it may have the alternative impact.
“I believe, if something, it should improve turnout,” mentioned Schifeling. “I believe Individuals can actually see by means of these unhappy makes an attempt to distract consideration from the failure of those Republican Congress folks and Republican Trump administration to truly deal with what most Individuals need and want from their authorities.”
Protestors march throughout an anti-Trump “No Kings Day” demonstration in a metropolis that has been the main focus of protests towards Trump’s immigration raids, June 14, 2025 in downtown Los Angeles.
Jay L Clendenin/Getty Photos
Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of Indivisible, advised ABC Information that he welcomes the publicity, however concurrently believes Republicans try to cease Individuals 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 mentioned.
ABC Information’ Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
