“No Kings”. Impressive images from the USA, from the national protest against the Trump administration – PHOTO/VIDEO

Crowds of people took to the streets in major US cities on Saturday and smaller gatherings took place in other parts of the country as part of a national protest against the Trump administration called “No Kings”.

More than 2,500 demonstrations were held in all 50 US states, where demonstrations expressed their dissatisfaction with a diverse range of policies of the current administration, according to CNN. Some of the central themes were perceived threats to democracy, raids against migrants, troop deployments from US cities and cuts to federal programs, particularly health care.

The protests also come in the context of the budget paralysis facing the federal government, the so-called “shutdown”, with Republican lawmakers and the White House locked in a dispute with Democrats over the funding bill.

New York, Chicago, Boston and the capital Washington DC are just a few of the major cities where demonstrations against the Trump administration have been held, and organizers were anticipating a total attendance of millions.

NOW: Large crowds gather in Times Square for “No Kings” protest in NYC

Video by @FreedomNTV [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/8HPt5in6WD

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) October 18, 2025

The name “No Kings” emphasizes that the US has no absolutist leaders, according to The Guardian, an allusion to accusations of authoritarianism aimed at Donald Trump.

“They say they refer to me as a king. I'm not a king,” Trump said in an interview broadcast by Fox News on Friday. The Republican Party calls such demonstrations “Hate America,” according to The Associated Press.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said more than 100,000 people participated in Saturday's demonstrations across the city.

“We had over 100,000 people across the five boroughs peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, and the NYPD made no protest-related arrests,” the agency said in a post on X.

🚨BREAKING🚨:🇺🇸 #NoKings Protest Takes Over Times Square NYC 🗽🪧

Thousands gather in New York's Times Square for the nationwide “No Kings” protests against what organizers say are authoritarian actions by the Trump administration. Events are planned in all 50 states today. pic.twitter.com/eTUxiXKRlA

— The_Independent (@TheIndeWire) October 18, 2025

Democratic Party politicians also participated in the protests, as was the case of the mayor of Denver, Mike Johnston, or the leader of the minority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, who went to the demonstration in New York.

“We will not bow, we will not bow, we will not cower, we will not obey. We do not want troops in our city,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also said. At the demonstration in this city, participants displayed messages such as “Resist Fascism” and “Hands off our Constitution.”

WOW! Chicago's Grant Park is packed.
Mayor Brandon Johnson fires up the crowd:

“Are you ready to fight fascism?
Are you prepared to destroy authoritarianism?
Then let the world hear you. No Kings” pic.twitter.com/UiR0rkL9y7

— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) October 18, 2025

Bobbie Castillo, a woman from Nebraska, traveled hundreds of miles from Lincoln to attend the rally in Washington DC, saying it was her first protest. Her fiance, Michael Langfeldt, told CNN they wanted to protest the “hate” shown toward immigrants, but also the administration's decision to deploy the military in cities.

BREAKING: This is in Trump's back yard. Washington DC No Kings Day Protest. This is just the beginning of the day.

It is absolutely unbelievable how many people are turning out for this. I love how everyone is staying peaceful. It's exactly what Trump doesn't want. pic.twitter.com/xHuCHguAyg

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 18, 2025