Massive demonstrations under the banner "No Kings" swept across the United States and into European capitals on Saturday, with Minnesota hosting the national flagship event featuring a performance by Bruce Springsteen. The protests targeted a range of Trump administration policies, with immigration enforcement and the conflict in Iran serving as central grievances for the thousands who gathered.
Minnesota Takes Center Stage
The rally on the Minnesota Capitol grounds in St. Paul served as the day's focal point. Organizers played a video message from actor Robert DeNiro, who expressed solidarity with the protesters, while singer Joan Baez, actor Jane Fonda, and Senator Bernie Sanders also appeared. The event was heavily shaped by local tensions over federal immigration operations, following Minnesota's ongoing legal battles with federal authorities concerning evidence related to protestor shootings.
Springsteen performed his song "Streets of Minneapolis," written in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Before playing, he praised the continued resistance to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). "Your strength and your commitment told us that this was still America," Springsteen told the crowd. "And this reactionary nightmare, and these invasions of American cities, will not stand." Protesters held a massive banner on the Capitol steps reading, "We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis."
A Nationwide and International Movement
Organizers from the group Indivisible reported over 3,100 registered events in all 50 states, estimating participation could reach 9 million—a figure that, if accurate, would surpass previous rallies in June and October. The protests manifested from major cities like New York and San Diego, where police estimated 40,000 participants, to small towns in conservative states like Driggs, Idaho.
The demonstrations also extended overseas, with events in more than a dozen countries. In countries with constitutional monarchies, organizers used the label "No Tyrants." In Rome, thousands marched with chants aimed at Premier Giorgia Meloni and waved banners protesting U.S. and Israeli actions in Iran, calling for "A world free from wars." The protests coincided with ongoing national scrutiny of the administration's Iran and immigration strategies.
Diverse Grievances and Creative Dissent
While immigration and Iran were primary catalysts, protesters cited a long list of concerns, including the rollback of transgender rights. In Washington, D.C., hundreds marched past the Lincoln Memorial with signs reading "Put down the crown, clown" and "Regime change begins at home." Bill Jarcho, part of a group from Seattle dressed as insects with "LICE" vests—a spoof of ICE—described their approach as a "mock and awe" tour. "What we provide is mockery to the king," Jarcho said. "It's about taking authoritarianism and making fun of it, which they hate."
In Topeka, Kansas, demonstrators included people impersonating a frog king and Trump as a baby. Wendy Wyatt, who drove from Lawrence with a "Cats Against Trump" sign, said that while many administration actions upset her, the scale of the protests was "very hopeful." Organizers noted that two-thirds of RSVPs came from outside major urban centers, including communities in traditionally Republican states and electorally competitive suburbs.
Republican Officials Dismiss Protests
The White House and Republican campaign apparatus swiftly dismissed the significance of the rallies. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson characterized them as the product of "leftist funding networks" with limited genuine support. "The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them," Jackson stated.
The National Republican Congressional Committee was similarly critical. "These Hate America Rallies are where the far-left's most violent, deranged fantasies get a microphone," said NRCC spokesperson Maureen O'Toole. This dismissive rhetoric comes as Congress passes a stopgap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, the agency overseeing ICE, amid the widespread demonstrations.
A Sustained Opposition Campaign
The "No Kings" movement represents a coordinated and sustained effort by progressive groups to mobilize opposition to the Trump administration. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, framed the protests as a direct rebuttal to attempts to instill fear. "They want us to be afraid that there's nothing we can do to stop them," she said during a news conference in New York. "But you know what? They are wrong — dead wrong." With prominent figures like Springsteen committing to headline these events, the movement shows signs of consolidating cultural and political dissent into a recurring national spectacle.
