Millions turned out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests across US

Huge crowds took part in “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump’s policies in cities across the US on Saturday, including New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles.

Thousands packed New York City’s iconic Times Square and streets all around, with people holding signs with slogans like “Democracy not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is not optional”.

Ahead of the demonstrations, Trump allies accused the protesters of being linked with the far-left Antifa movement, and condemned what they called “the hate America rally”.

Several US states had mobilised the National Guard. But organisers said the events, which drew nearly seven million people, were peaceful.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has expanded the scope of presidential power, using executive orders to dismantle parts of the federal government and to deploy National Guard troops to US cities despite objections by state governors.

He has also called on the administration’s top law enforcement officials to prosecute his perceived enemies.

The president says his actions are necessary to rebuild a country in crisis and has dismissed accusations that he is a behaving like a dictator or fascist as hysterical.

But critics warn some of the moves by his administration are unconstitutional and a threat to American democracy.

In an interview with Fox News, set to air on Sunday, Trump appeared to address the rallies.

“A king! This is not an act,” Trump said in a preview clip of the interview. “You know – they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king.”

In New York, sections of the crowd regularly erupted into chants of “This is what democracy looks like” as a near-constant drumbeat boomed in the background.

Helicopters and drones could be seen flying overhead, and police stood on the sidelines.

The New York Police Department said more than 100,000 people had gathered across all five of the city’s boroughs, and that no protest-related arrests were made.

Beth Zasloff, a freelance writer and editor, said she had joined the New York protest because she feels outraged and distressed at “a move toward fascism and an authoritarian government” happening under the Trump administration.

“I care a lot about New York City,” she said.

“It gives me hope to be out here with many, many other people.”

Massimo Mascoli, a 68-year-old retired electronic engineer and resident of New Jersey who grew up in Italy, said he was protesting because he was concerned the US was following the same path that his home country did in the last century.

Mr Mascoli said he was particularly worried about the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and healthcare cuts for millions of Americans.

“We cannot count on the Supreme Court, we cannot count on the government,” he told the BBC. “We cannot count on the Congress. We have all the legislative, the executive and judiciary that are all against the American people right now. So we are fighting.”

Americans are deeply divided on Donald Trump – and the protests.

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 40% approved of his performance as president, while 58% disapproved.

It is common for presidents to become more unpopular as their term wears on. Joe Biden had a 55% approval rating, according to Reuters/Ipsos, in January 2021. By October of that year, his approval had declined to 46%.

Some on the right dubbed have dubbed yesterday’s demonstrations the “hate America” rally – a position contested by those who participated on Saturday.

Speaking to the crowd in Washington, DC, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said “We’re not here because we hate America, we’re here because we love America”.

Senator Chris Murphy shared footage of the huge turnout in his home state of Connecticut: “Breathtaking. This is why today will likely go down as the biggest day of peaceful protest in our nation’s 250 year history.”

But Republican governors in several US states had placed National Guard troops on standby ahead of the protests.

“We’ll have to get the National Guard out,” Kansas Senator Roger Marshall said ahead of the rallies, according to CNN. “Hopefully it’ll be peaceful. I doubt it.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated his state’s National Guard, saying they would be needed due to the “planned antifa-linked demonstration” in Austin.

About 30,000 people attended the Austin protest, which remained peaceful.

Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin also ordered the state National Guard to be activated, though local reports said troops were not present during the protest.

In Washington, DC, where the National Guard guard has been deployed since August at Trump’s request, no troops were visible at the protest, either.

One protester at the rally in the capital held up a sign that read “I am Antifa”.

Chuck Epes, 76, said it was a “loaded” term, and just meant he supported “peace, daycare, liveable wage, healthcare”.

“He’s gaslighting everybody – or trying to, and it ain’t working,” he said.

The protests weren’t confined to the US.

Throughout Europe, there were also demonstrations Berlin, Madrid and Rome as people showed solidarity with their American counterparts. In London, several hundred protesters gathered outside the US embassy.

There were similar scenes in Toronto, where demonstrators near the US consulate waved signs including “Hands off Canada”.

With additional reporting by Ana Faguy