Millions March Against trump in Growing ‘No Kings’ Protests

Organisers claim seven million Americans came out to protest against US President Donald Trump on Saturday. These are not police or official figures, and crowd sizes are always challenging to gauge, especially when aggregating numerous protests. But it is clear the ‘No Kings’ protests at the weekend were cumulatively very large, and likely bigger than the original ‘No Kings’ protest in June, which had an estimated attendance of five million.

These are among the very biggest single day protests to have taken place in the United States. so the indications are that the ‘No Kings’ movement is growing.

Prior to the march we wrote that the demonstrations were a test of the mood in the US. A smaller crowd than June would indicate apathy or resignation among voters. A bigger crowd would compel the president and his supporters to take note. The crowds appear to have been bigger than June.

The president, who spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, paid enough attention to post an AI-generated meme on his Truth Social platform, showing him as a crown-wearing fighter pilot dumping liquid manure on the protesters.

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Yesterday, the speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the meme was just satire, the president making a point in a humorous way. He also said some among the millions of protesters at 2,600 rallies against the president had carried signs advocating for violence or even threatening death to the president. Yet the evidence is very clear – these rallies were overwhelmingly peaceful.

In the nation’s capital and in new York city, the police departments said they had not made a single arrest. The same was true across the country. There were a handful of arrests that happened after rallies had ended and crowds dispersed, but these fell into the “public order” category of arrest, not political violence or anything like it.

Read more: Thousands challenge Trump policies in ‘No Kings’ rallies

At the Washington DC rally – which organisers claimed attracted 200,000 to march down Pennsylvania Avenue to a rally point just below the Capitol – this reporter did not witness any aggressive behavior or threats of violence, apart from one person carrying a sign that read “8647”, a term that some Republicans have claimed signals a call to assassinate mr Trump.

The number “86” appears to come from American restaurant and bar staff slang, meaning to deny someone service or throw them out. More recently it has been said to be a street gangster term for killing someone.It was a pretty obscure term until James Comey,the former FBI head,posted a photo of some shells on the beach he found formed into the number sequence “8647” – interpreted by Republicans as being a call for the killing of the 47th president,Donald J Trump. But it is pretty obscure and a bit of a stretch to call it an overt call for violence.

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[figcaption]protesters marched along Pennsylvania Avenue during the second ‘No Kings’ protest in Washington, DC[/figcaption]
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apart from one person in a crowd numbering in six digits, I saw no calls for violence against Mr Trump or the government or the police or anyone else. If they were there,I didn’t see them (but I did spend a couple of hours with a cameraman looking for images for a TV report – in DC there was nothing remotely violent).

The crowd was overwhelmingly white, in a city where African Americans are the racial majority, suggesting many came in from the suburbs around DC, where most of the government, academic, business and military officer families live. The size of the crowd in DC also obscured the professional protesters, the small but…

protests Against Presidential Power and the Resilience of American Constitutionalism

Recent protests across the United States reflect growing concerns over the concentration of power within the executive branch. These demonstrations, sparked by what many perceive as the president’s pursuit of a “Unified Executive Theory,” highlight a deep-seated commitment to the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The movement’s strength lies in its broad appeal, rooted in fundamental American ideals of liberty and constitutional governance, making it a notable challenge to the current governance.

The “Unified Executive Theory” and Public Opposition

The core of the current controversy centers around the “Unified Executive Theory,” a legal interpretation arguing for expansive presidential authority, potentially diminishing the roles of Congress and the judiciary. This theory, gaining traction within the current administration, posits that the president possesses ultimate control over the executive branch and is less constrained by legislative or judicial oversight than traditionally understood. Critics argue this approach undermines the system of checks and balances established by the Founding Fathers.

Protests began on January 20th, 2025, and have continued to grow, fueled by concerns that the president is actively working to reshape the constitutional order. Demonstrators express fears of eroding democratic norms and a potential shift towards authoritarianism. These concerns are not based on animosity towards the united States, but rather a fervent desire to uphold the Constitution and the liberties it guarantees, as evidenced by interviews with protestors.

A Return to Revolutionary Principles

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the declaration of Independence in 2026, the spirit of the revolutionary constitutional order appears remarkably resilient. The Declaration, with its emphasis on natural rights and popular sovereignty, continues to inspire citizens to defend their freedoms. The current protests demonstrate a renewed engagement with these foundational principles.

The movement’s power stems from its grounding in widely-held American values. Concepts of limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law are integral parts of the American education system, fostering a broad base of support. This widespread understanding of constitutional principles also insulates the movement from being easily dismissed as partisan or extremist.

Challenges for the Administration

The administration’s attempts to discredit the protesters, such as Speaker Johnson’s claim that they harbor a hatred of America, have proven ineffective. The demonstrators consistently articulate their motivations as a defence of American ideals, framing their actions as a patriotic response to perceived overreach by the executive branch.

The movement’s independence from customary party politics further complicates the administration’s efforts to delegitimize it. Individuals from across the political spectrum are participating, united by their shared concern for the future of American democracy. This broad coalition makes it difficult for the administration to employ conventional political tactics to suppress or marginalize the protests.

Key takeaways

• The protests are driven by concerns over the “Unified Executive Theory” and its potential to concentrate power in the presidency.
• The movement is rooted in fundamental American principles of liberty and constitutional governance.
• Its broad base of support, stemming from widespread understanding of constitutional principles, makes it resilient and difficult to discredit.
• The protests represent a renewed engagement with the ideals of the Declaration of Independence as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

the ongoing protests signal a critical moment in American history. The strength and persistence of this movement suggest a deep-seated commitment to preserving the constitutional order and defending the principles of liberty. As the debate over presidential power continues, the future of American democracy may well depend on the outcome of this struggle.