WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 18, 2025 — President Donald Trump insisted Friday that he is “not a king,” responding to a wave of criticism and a growing protest movement accusing his administration of authoritarian overreach. His remarks came just hours before thousands of demonstrators gathered across the United States for what organizers have branded the “No Kings” rallies — a nationwide call to defend democracy and limit executive power.
The protests, stretching from New York to Los Angeles and from rural Kansas to Alaska, are among the largest coordinated political demonstrations of the year. Organizers say they aim to send a simple message: America is a republic, not a monarchy.
“We don’t crown kings in this country,” said Leah Torres, a spokesperson for the coalition behind the movement. “The presidency was never meant to be a throne. It’s a public trust.”
The spark behind the movement
The “No Kings” campaign began earlier this summer after a series of controversial executive actions by the Trump administration — including efforts to deploy federal law enforcement officers in several cities without local consent, and an emergency declaration that allowed the White House to redirect federal funds without congressional approval. Critics said these steps blurred the line between presidential authority and unchecked rule.
Civil-rights organizations, environmental groups, and student movements quickly rallied around the “No Kings” slogan. Within weeks, the phrase appeared on banners, T-shirts, and social media posts across the country. Saturday’s demonstrations mark the largest organized push yet, with more than 2,500 local rallies planned in all 50 states.
The movement’s official website, NoKings.org, describes its mission as “a defense of American democracy against creeping autocracy.” The site calls on citizens to “reclaim the people’s voice” and to resist what it calls “an imperial presidency.”
Trump pushes back
President Trump, during an interview on Fox News Tonight, appeared unbothered by the protests but rejected the accusation that he is acting like a monarch.
“They’re saying I think I’m a king — I’m not a king,” Trump said. “I was elected by the people to get things done, and that’s what I’m doing. The media and the left want to stop everything I do, and they call it dictatorship. That’s ridiculous.”
Trump’s allies in Congress echoed his tone, dismissing the demonstrations as politically motivated and unpatriotic.
House Majority Leader Marjorie Taylor Greene called the rallies “hate-America events” funded by “left-wing elites,” while conservative commentator Tucker Carlson described the “No Kings” slogan as “a meaningless tantrum from people who lost control of government.”
Still, the fact that the President addressed the movement directly suggested that its message had struck a nerve.
Protesters take to the streets
By Saturday morning, thousands had filled public squares from Washington’s National Mall to San Francisco’s Civic Center. Demonstrators waved yellow banners reading “No Crowns, No Thrones, No Kings” and chanted slogans calling for checks and balances.
In Chicago, activists built a symbolic “People’s Throne” made of cardboard and invited participants to sit on it while reading passages from the U.S. Constitution. In Austin, Texas, protesters marched to the state capitol wearing paper crowns, which they later tore apart during a mock “coronation ceremony” symbolizing the rejection of authoritarianism.
In Portland, police briefly clashed with a small group of counter-protesters carrying pro-Trump flags, but no major violence was reported nationwide. Organizers said the demonstrations were meant to remain peaceful, modeled after earlier civil-rights marches.
“This isn’t anti-Trump; it’s pro-democracy,” said Jamal Rodriguez, a student leader from the University of Michigan. “Presidents come and go, but when we stop defending limits on power, that’s when democracy dies.”
A divided public
Public opinion over the protests remains sharply split.
A Gallup poll released Friday found that 48 percent of Americans agree that Trump “has exceeded his constitutional authority,” while 44 percent say he is “acting within his rights.” Among Republicans, 83 percent back the President’s use of executive power, arguing that Congress is gridlocked and obstructive.
For many supporters, Trump’s actions represent decisive leadership rather than tyranny.
“He’s doing what every strong leader should do — cutting through red tape,” said Michael Adams, a small-business owner who attended a pro-Trump counter-rally in Phoenix. “The people voted for him to fix things, not to ask permission from Washington bureaucrats.”
Democrats, however, argue that the pattern is clear: a president testing the limits of democracy.
Senator Elizabeth Warren called the protests “a patriotic act,” adding, “When Americans march for limits on power, they are marching for the Constitution itself.”
Historical echoes
The phrase “No Kings” resonates deeply in American history. The nation’s founders revolted against King George III and deliberately designed a system to prevent the rise of any single ruler. Protesters are tapping into that revolutionary imagery — from colonial-style costumes to 18th-century slogans reimagined for the digital age.
Political historian Daniel Ziblatt of Harvard University noted that the movement’s symbolism reflects “an anxiety that’s not just about Trump, but about the future of the presidency itself.”
“Every generation faces the question of how much power one person should hold,” Ziblatt said. “The ‘No Kings’ protests are essentially an argument for returning to constitutional balance — something that’s been eroding for decades.”
International attention
The protests have drawn global attention, with major outlets in Europe and Asia describing them as “a referendum on American democracy.”
Foreign leaders, including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Germany’s Chancellor Annalena Baerbock, declined to comment directly but emphasized the importance of “democratic resilience” and “institutional integrity.”
Analysts say the demonstrations highlight a growing worldwide concern about authoritarian tendencies, not only in the U.S. but also in other democracies where strong-man politics have gained traction.
What happens next
Whether the “No Kings” movement can maintain momentum remains uncertain. Organizers say they plan to follow the protests with a “Democracy Week” campaign — voter-registration drives, teach-ins about constitutional rights, and lobbying efforts aimed at curbing executive overreach.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to face legal challenges over several executive orders, including those concerning immigration and environmental deregulation. Federal courts are expected to hear key cases later this month.
Political experts suggest that how Trump responds — through tone, restraint, or escalation — could shape the remainder of his term.
“He’s caught between projecting strength and respecting limits,” said Dr. Elaine Kurtz, a political scientist at Georgetown University. “The irony is that even denying he’s a king keeps the metaphor alive.”
A symbolic battle for democracy
As the sun set over the Capitol on Saturday, thousands of protesters lit candles and sang “America the Beautiful.” A child held a sign reading, “We fired a king once. We can do it again.”
For many, the moment was about more than politics — it was about national identity.
“When a president says, ‘I’m not a king,’ that’s a reminder of who we are supposed to be,” said Torres, the protest organizer. “But saying it isn’t enough. We have to live it.”
Whether these protests will lead to concrete political change or fade into symbolic history remains to be seen. But for one day in October, across city streets and rural town squares, Americans stood together under a shared declaration — no crowns, no thrones, no kings.
