UPDATE: Following the “No Kings” protests on June 14, 2025, supporters have continued to participate in similar nationwide protests, with “No Kings” rallies occurring on October 18, 2025 and most recently on March 28, 2026. Organizers for the March protests, including progressive organizations like Indivisible, 50501, and Move On, ruled that the more than 3,300 “No Kings” protests nationwide were the “greatest number of protests in a single day in U.S. history.” Figures like Minnesota’s governor Tim Walz, actress Jane Fonda, and singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen were among the 8 million protesters who joined the protests said to be in response to President Donald J. Trump’s immigration crackdown, the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and the U.S’s war with Iran. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson spoke out against the protests, calling them “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” while Mike Marinella, the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) spokesman, labeled the protests “hate America rallies.”
Background & Parade Details
On June 14, 2025, President Trump hosted a military parade in Washington, DC. The parade celebrated the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, and coincided with the President’s 79th birthday. The last time that Washington DC had held a military parade was in 1991, after the first Persian Gulf War, which cost an estimated $8 million. Prior to that, there had been parades in New York after WWI,WWII, and the Civil War. What stood out about this year’s parade was that it was not held to signify an end to wartime, and that President Trump was a focal point. In addition to the parade, there was a festival held that had been in planning for almost two years. While Army officials did not officially disclose the cost of the parade and festival, they estimated it to be between $25-45 million. There were roughly 6,600 soldiers who participated, representing every era of the Army, in addition to 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft.
No Kings Protests
The No Kings protests occurred peacefully across dozens of cities on the same day in response to President Trump’s military parade. It was organized by a coalition of organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, MoveOn, Indivisible, the American Federation of Teachers, and Communication Workers Of America. More than 5 million people participated in over 2,000 planned demonstrations. Organizers accused President Trump of using the military parade to celebrate his birthday and display his dominance through military power.
The epicenter of the protests was in Philadelphia, drawing an estimated 80,000-100,000 people. Other notable cities included New York, with an estimated 50,000-200,000 people, Los Angeles with an estimated tens of thousands to over 200,000 people, and San Diego, estimated to have had 60,000 people. In addition to this, hundreds of small towns across the nation held their own demonstrations. The protests remained largely peaceful, with several exceptions. In Northern Virginia, a man intentionally drove his car into the crowd, leaving one person injured. In Los Angeles, police used tear gas and rubber bullets after the approved duration for the protest expired. Police stated that demonstrators threw rocks and bricks among other objects.
Controversy
Many people who attended the protests spoke about the importance of democracy in society today. Shahera Hyatt from Sacramento, stated, “I decided to go because I feel like with unchecked authority, Trump has led America into clear facism.” Similarly, Margo Ross from Watsonville, CA, said that, “I believe from the beginning it’s been a coup and fascist overthrow, and I keep thinking, well, it can’t get worse. And then it gets worse and worse.” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers said that, “The throughline in America is that the people are governed not by a king, not a tyrant, not nobility, but the people.” In response to the cost of the parade, Renee Hall-George, a social worker from Atlanta, stated that, “We need that money in other places. How about funding education? How about feeding people? How about offering healthcare?” Many other demonstrators compared the parade to those held in North Korea and Russia. On the other hand, a group of women from Pennsylvania who attended the parade, said that, “Trump wants to keep us safe. He’s not Hitler.” Another woman stated that “[He is] not a king,” and defended his decision to remove transgender people from the military, accusing Biden of subjecting the military to DEI initiatives.
Political Implications
While the political implications of these protests remain uncertain, they have sparked public discourse in a changing political landscape. A political science professor at UC San Diego, Thad Kousser explained that grassroots dissent can drive political change, stating that “Protest, especially from communities that have lower socioeconomic status and have to pay higher costs, […] predicts the voting rates of legislators, and it moves the needle on policies.” The protests were inspired by the 3.5% principle, which, according to Truthout, means that, “Movements against authoritarianism that engage 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.” Together, these protests highlight how civic engagement might influence policy decisions and shape political outcomes.
Conclusion
The No Kings protests, sparked by President Trump’s military parade, reflect growing tensions over power, democracy, and public spending. While opinions remain divided, the scale and message of the demonstrations signal a renewed commitment to civic participation in shaping the nation’s political future.