On June 14, 2025, over 2,000 “No Kings” protests erupted across all 50 states, a powerful rejection of what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and militarization of democracy.” These demonstrations, organized by a coalition of over 200 groups including Indivisible and the ACLU, coincided with a controversial military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 79th birthday. Against a backdrop of escalating tensions over immigration policies, the protests highlighted deep national divisions, with clashes reported in cities like Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. This blog post explores the events, their causes, and their implications for America’s political landscape.
The “No Kings” Protests: A Nationwide Day of Defiance
The “No Kings” protests, dubbed the largest single-day anti-Trump demonstrations of his second administration, drew millions to streets, parks, and capitol grounds nationwide. From major cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia to smaller towns like Pinedale, Wyoming, and Moab, Utah, organizers aimed to counter Trump’s military parade with a “people-powered movement.” According to the No Kings website, the protests were a response to the administration’s actions, including “defying courts, deporting Americans, attacking civil rights, and slashing services.” Notably, no protests were planned in Washington, D.C., to avoid confrontation and to emphasize a contrast between grassroots action and the $25–$45 million parade spectacle.
In Philadelphia, a flagship march from LOVE Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art featured a livestreamed rally, with speakers emphasizing democratic values. In Los Angeles, protests turned heated, with police using tear gas and issuing dispersal orders after objects were thrown at officers. A shooting at a Salt Lake City march left one person critically injured, and in Texas, a “credible threat” against lawmakers led to the evacuation of the state capitol. Despite these incidents, most rallies remained peaceful, with organizers stressing nonviolence and de-escalation.
The Military Parade: A Symbol of Division
The Washington, D.C., parade, featuring 6,200 soldiers, 128 military vehicles, and 62 aircraft, was framed by the Trump administration as a celebration of the Army’s 250th anniversary. However, critics, including No Kings organizers, viewed it as a “made-for-TV display of dominance” tied to Trump’s personal ego, especially as it coincided with his birthday. The event, costing an estimated $25–$45 million, included tanks, flyovers, and a ceremonial enlistment of 250 soldiers by Trump himself. A poll by the Associated Press-NORC found that 60% of Americans disapproved of the parade’s cost, with many seeing it as a politicization of the military.
Trump dismissed accusations of authoritarianism, stating, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.” Supporters, like Army veteran Mike Davis, celebrated the parade as a long-overdue tribute to the military, while others, like protester Stephanie Henderson in Philadelphia, compared Trump to historical dictators, carrying signs referencing the Revolutionary War and World War II.
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Immigration Crackdown Fuels Tensions
The protests were catalyzed by the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies, particularly military-style ICE raids in Los Angeles that began on June 6, 2025, resulting in 44 detentions. The deployment of National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell related protests in California further inflamed tensions, with organizers citing these actions as evidence of overreach. Posts on X reflected public outrage, with some users calling the raids a “mirror” of broader systemic issues like racial disparities and economic struggles.
Political Violence and a Polarized Nation
The No Kings protests unfolded amid heightened political tensions. In Minnesota, the assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and the wounding of Sen. John Hoffman in politically motivated shootings led to the cancellation of local protests. In Texas, threats against lawmakers underscored the volatile atmosphere. These incidents, coupled with arrests in Las Vegas and clashes in Los Angeles, highlighted the challenges of maintaining peaceful dissent in a polarized climate.
What’s Next for the Anti-Trump Movement?
Organizers, including Indivisible’s Ezra Levin, emphasized that the No Kings protests are not a one-off event but part of a broader “crescendo of action” against the Trump administration. Plans for future demonstrations, including around Juneteenth and Labor Day, signal ongoing resistance. As Lisa Gilbert of Public Citizen noted on PBS, the movement aims to show that “America is predicated on the idea that we all have a voice.”
