On October 18, 2025, millions of Americans took to the streets for protests under the slogan "No Kings", Reuters reported. A series of rallies took place across the country, the purpose of which, according to organizers and participants, is to counter the rise of authoritarianism during President Donald Trump's second term. According to organizers, more than 2,600 events were planned in all 50 states of the country and millions of Americans participated in them.
The slogan "No Kings" is a reference to the anti-monarchical views of the founders of the American republic, and in today's context it aims to send a signal of a widespread concern among the American public - that the executive branch is beginning to is exceeding its powers, Reuters points out.
The protesters who gathered in most major US cities - from New York and Washington to Houston and Portland - said their actions were not partisan, but an expression of patriotism, the Associated Press commented. The “No Kings” movement, however, represents a direct challenge to the Trump administration, which has deployed the National Guard in some cities, stepped up operations against migrants and often used emergency powers for its actions, provoking alarm across the American political spectrum.
In recent months, the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on the powers of law enforcement and the relationship between federal and local governments has attracted increasing attention in the United States, the AP points out. In June 2025, the first wave of “No Kings” protests took place before a military parade marking the 250th anniversary of the of the US military, with protesters opposing the event, which they said was intended to distract attention with spectacle from the advancing militarization of the state apparatus.
In October, discontent escalated, writes the American analysis website "GovExec". In cities such as Chicago and Portland, the deployment of the National Guard and the interventions of federal immigration agencies have become visible symbols of tension. Protesters say these actions blur the line between civilian and military government. Many federal employees, frustrated by cuts, layoffs and centralized directives, have joined the protests.
At the same time, the work of the US Congress continues to be blocked by a crisis in government funding, notes the AP. The temporary shutdown of some government departments and repeated budget battles in the legislature have fueled broader themes about institutional dysfunction, fueling public discontent with the paralysis of institutions.
Across the country, the "No Kings" protests were distinguished by their extraordinary scale and symbolism, writes the "Houston Chronicle". In downtown Houston, according to the organizers, between 13,500 and 15,000 participants gathered, including veterans, students, representatives of the LGBTQ community and people participating in a protest for the first time.
The movement is based on the principle of nonviolence, says the "Maine Morning Star". Participants were urged to wear yellow clothes, not to carry weapons and not to escalate conflicts.
However, senior representatives of the Republican Party reacted sharply, says "Politico". House Speaker Mike Johnson called the protests "a hate event to America“ and tried to link them to extremist groups.
Despite these criticisms, Reuters reports that significant demonstrations took place in many American cities and, according to the agency's estimates, several million Americans participated in the protests nationwide, making them some of the largest coordinated protests since Trump took office.
The phrase “No Kings“ is a deliberate reference to the history of America's founding - the rejection of monarchy and the idea that power belongs to the people. Now, however, the phrase is also an expression of fear - fear of executive overreach, centralized control, the militarization of domestic politics and the slow erosion of civil liberties, writes "The Atlantic" magazine.
In a commentary, the American magazine points out the irony that protesters who gather to resist the “kings“ often make references to the legacy of the founding fathers of the United States to oppose a leader who claims to be democratically elected. According to "The Atlantic", the protests want to draw attention to the question: "What happens when leaders who came to power through the mechanisms of democracy act in undemocratic ways?".
Trade unions and various civil society groups have a particularly important role in organizing and ensuring broad political legitimacy for the movement, writes the "Guardian". This coalition, uniting different generations concerned with different issues, emphasizes that the protests are not related to a single political group, but to a broader civil unrest, the publication believes.
The protests also had an international impact, writes the newspaper "Monde". The publication defines the events as a stress test for democratic norms in the United States. According to the newspaper, American allies see a country "oscillating between militarization at home and paralysis in Washington".
Amid the approaching midterm elections in the United States, the protests signaled a potential rearrangement of the political mosaic, points out "Bloomberg". Center-right and extreme populist groups perceive a strong executive branch ready to use all its tools of coercion as attractive; moderate voters and civil rights activists perceive it as a threat.
Meanwhile, investors and US allies are watching from the sidelines and waiting to see how the situation will develop, the media outlet notes. Political instability or unpredictable actions by the executive branch could negatively affect markets, the opinion of allies and America's authority. If it turns out that the US cannot maintain the mechanisms that protect the democratic balance in the country, its influence around the world could be undermined, "Bloomberg" warns.