Washington, DC: Huge crowds marched in major cities across the United States on Saturday as part of the “No Kings” demonstrations — a nationwide movement opposing President Donald Trump’s administration and its policies.

Organisers estimated nearly 7 million people participated in over 2,700 rallies spanning all 50 states, making it one of the largest protest turnouts in recent years. Police described the events as largely peaceful, with no major protest-related incidents or arrests reported in major cities.

Why They Protested

Protesters voiced anger over a wide range of Trump administration policies — particularly what they called threats to democracy, immigration raids, troop deployments in US cities, and cuts to healthcare and social programs. Many also linked their participation to frustration over the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its 18th day, which has paralysed key services amid a funding impasse between the White House and Congress.

Scenes Across the Country

  • Chicago: Thousands rallied with “Hands Off Chicago” banners, decrying immigration crackdowns and federal spending cuts.
  • Los Angeles: Demonstrations outside City Hall resembled a street festival, featuring salsa bands and colourful inflatable costumes. “It’s hard to call it a war zone when it looks like a block party,” one protester told CNN.
  • Washington, DC: Federal workers affected by the shutdown gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue to demand stability and an end to political gridlock.
  • New York City: Protesters filled Times Square, with some marching toward Lower Manhattan carrying signs reading, “We protest because we love America, and we want it back.”
  • Atlanta: Crowds invoked the city’s civil rights legacy in a peaceful rally calling for unity and protection of democratic values.

Leaders Respond

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said all local demonstrations were peaceful, describing the protests as a “vital show of resistance” to what she called early signs of authoritarianism.
“We know he’s not a king,” Bass told CNN. “But we don’t want to see our democracy slide backward. Americans standing up peacefully is essential.”

The “No Kings” movement has become a recurring theme of dissent since Trump’s return to office, drawing millions to the streets in earlier rounds of protest in June and August.