Millions of people across the United States took to the streets on Saturday, October 18, 2025, for the second major wave of “No Kings” rallies, protesting against what they view as the autocratic tendencies and anti-democratic actions of the President Donald Trump-led administration. The demonstrations, organized by a coalition of approximately 300 grassroots groups including Indivisible, are estimated by organizers cited by Reuters to have drawn millions of people in over 2,000 planned rallies across all 50 states, and even in some foreign capitals.
The massive nationwide mobilization, the second of its kind since June, was sparked by a series of controversial moves by the Trump administration, including the criminal persecution of political adversaries, sweeping immigration raids, and the deployment of federal troops in multiple US cities.
Demonstrators in Washington D.C. created a carnival-like atmosphere as they marched toward the U.S. Capitol, carrying signs, US flags, balloons, and some wearing costumes, Reuters reported. The rallies, also held in major cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta, drew large crowds. In Chicago, protestors marched past Trump Tower. One protestor expressed a desire to show support for “democracy and for fighting (for) what is right,” and was against the “overreach of power.”
Republican Criticism and Trump’s Response
Leading Republicans have vehemently condemned the protests, terming them “Hate America” rallies. House Speaker Mike Johnson, for instance, encouraged people to watch the “Hate America rally,” claiming it would draw groups like “antifa types,” “Marxists,” and others who “don’t want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic.”
President Trump, who was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, gave a short pre-protest response regarding the movement’s theme. In an interview with Fox Business aired on Friday, he stated, “They’re referring to me as a king — I’m not a king.”
Support from Progressive Leaders
The marches have received high-profile support from Democratic and progressive leaders. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent, and US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat, were among those backing the demonstrations. Organizers view the mass protest as a crucial step to build a unified opposition movement against the administration’s actions. The first ‘No Kings’ protest took place in June.