Hundreds gathered in various cities worldwide, including outside the US embassy in London, to participate in the initial wave of “No Kings” protests, a global movement opposing President Donald Trump’s stances on immigration, education, and security. Organizers labeled these demonstrations as a stance against what they perceive as the president’s authoritarian aspirations.
The London protest was one of the earliest in a series of over 2,600 planned protests in the US and internationally. Similar assemblies took place in Madrid and Barcelona, while preparations for marches in major US cities, suburbs, and small towns were underway.
Since assuming office ten months ago, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement, threatened to reduce federal funding for universities due to pro-Palestinian protests and diversity initiatives, and authorized National Guard deployments in various states. Critics argue that these actions by his administration have exacerbated societal divisions and jeopardized democratic principles.
Leah Greenberg, a co-founder of Indivisible, the group spearheading the ‘No Kings’ movement, stated, “There is nothing more American than rejecting monarchies and exercising our right to protest.” She characterized the marches as a peaceful demonstration of defiance against what she termed as “authoritarian overreach.”
In Northern Virginia, demonstrators were observed marching on overpasses leading to Washington DC, with hundreds congregating near Arlington National Cemetery, close to where Trump proposed constructing a ceremonial arch linking to the Lincoln Memorial. The movement garnered support from over 300 grassroots organizations, with the American Civil Liberties Union training tens of thousands of volunteers as legal marshals and de-escalation guides, and social media initiatives boosting participation.
Progressive figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have endorsed the protests, with several celebrities also expressing support. In June, during Trump’s 79th birthday celebrations and military parade in Washington, over 2,000 ‘No Kings’ marches occurred nationwide, mostly peaceful.
While Trump has largely disregarded the recent wave of protests, he mentioned in a Fox Business interview, “They’re referring to me as a king; I’m not a king.”
Republican leaders swiftly criticized the protests, with House Speaker Mike Johnson accusing Democrats of organizing a “hate-America rally” and warning of potential unrest following the assassination of Trump ally Charlie Kirk in September.
Sociologist Dana Fisher from American University, who studies US activism, predicted that Saturday’s protests could be among the largest in recent history, with estimates indicating over three million participants. Fisher emphasized that the aim is not an immediate change in Trump’s policies but rather a collective voice reclamation during a time when many feel silenced or targeted.