A multitude of people of all age groups joined “No Kings” rallies across the United States Saturday to express their pent up anger at President Donald Trump and his recent actions and decisions.
From the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol to the monuments of Washington people gathered for the third round of “No Kings” rallies, a burgeoning movement aimed at what protesters call the authoritarian drift of the Trump administration.
The flagship event in St. Paul, Minnesota, drew a massive crowd estimated at nearly 100,000 people. Headlining the rally was Bruce Springsteen, who performed “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song written after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in January.
The deaths became a catalyst for the state’s resistance against a surge in U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) activity. “This reactionary nightmare and these invasions of American cities will not stand,” Springsteen told the cheering crowd, praising Minnesotans for their winter-long defiance of federal immigration crackdowns.
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Organizers from the group Indivisible and MoveOn reported more than 3,100 registered events across all 50 states. While the movement found its strongest footing in urban strongholds like New York and Chicago, registration data suggested significant participation in conservative-leaning states such as Idaho and Wyoming.
In Driggs, Idaho, a town of fewer than 2,000 residents, locals gathered to voice grievances that have expanded from immigration to include the ongoing war in Iran and the rollback of transgender rights.
In the capital city of Washington, hundreds marched past the Lincoln Memorial toward the National Mall. The atmosphere was a blend of somber protest and satirical performance; one group from Seattle dressed as giant insects in tactical vests labeled “LICE,” a parody of immigration authorities. “It’s about taking authoritarianism and making fun of it, which they hate,” said protester Bill Jarcho.
The White House remained dismissive of the turnout. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson labeled the demonstrations “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions,” claiming they were orchestrated by “leftist funding networks” rather than organic public concern.
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Despite the largely peaceful nature of the rallies, tensions flared in Los Angeles. Authorities there deployed tear gas near a federal detention center after some individuals reportedly threw objects at officers. Several arrests were made following a failure-to-disperse order.
The “No Kings” movement, which began last June, has grown in scale as the president’s approval ratings hit a recent low of 36%. For many in the streets, the goal is to signal that executive power has its limits.
“They want us to be afraid that there’s nothing we can do to stop them,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “But you know what? They are wrong, dead wrong.”