Large-scale protests targeting the administration of Donald Trump have erupted across cities in the United States, marking the third wave of the “No Kings” rallies, which have previously drawn millions of participants nationwide.
Organisers said the demonstrations were driven by opposition to a range of government policies, including the conflict involving Iran, federal immigration enforcement measures, and the rising cost of living.
“Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people – not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies,” organisers said.
A spokesperson for the White House dismissed the protests as “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions,” adding that the only people who care “are the reporters who are paid to cover them”.
Demonstrations were reported throughout Saturday in nearly every major U.S. city, including New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered across the downtown area during the afternoon, with protesters marching through the capital. Demonstrators assembled along the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and filled the National Mall.
As seen in previous “No Kings” rallies, protesters displayed effigies of the president, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials, calling for their removal and arrest.
One of the largest demonstrations took place in Minnesota, where the deaths of two American citizens earlier this year had sparked widespread outrage and protests over federal immigration tactics.
Thousands gathered in the state capital, St Paul, where several prominent Democratic figures addressed crowds outside the State Capitol building.
Musician Bruce Springsteen also appeared on stage, performing his anti-immigration enforcement song, “Streets of Minneapolis”.
In New York City, thousands of demonstrators filled Times Square and marched through Midtown Manhattan, prompting authorities to close several major roads to accommodate the crowds.
Police previously estimated that more than 100,000 people attended similar protests across the city’s five boroughs in October.
Some protests turned confrontational. In Los Angeles, authorities said two individuals were arrested on suspicion of assaulting federal law enforcement officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement posted on X, the agency said two officers had been struck with cement blocks and were receiving medical treatment after what it described as a group of “1,000 rioters” surrounded the Roybal Federal Building and threw objects at officers.
Elsewhere in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department reported multiple arrests after protesters failed to comply with dispersal orders near a federal detention facility.
Police said federal authorities deployed “non-lethal measures” to disperse crowds after warning demonstrators not to attempt to breach gates or throw projectiles.
According to Reuters, arrests were also made in Dallas following minor clashes between protesters and counter-protesters who disrupted the march.
The previous “No Kings” rally, held in October, drew an estimated seven million participants nationwide.
Several states activated the National Guard in response to the demonstrations, although organisers insisted the events remained peaceful.
Since returning to office in January 2025, President Trump has expanded the use of executive authority, issuing orders to restructure parts of the federal government and deploying National Guard troops to cities despite opposition from some state governors.
He has also directed senior law enforcement officials to pursue legal action against individuals he considers political adversaries.
The president has defended these actions as necessary to address national challenges and has rejected claims that he is governing in an authoritarian manner. “They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” he said in an interview with Fox News in October.
Critics, however, argue that several of the administration’s policies may be unconstitutional and pose a threat to democratic institutions.
Protests have extended beyond major metropolitan areas, with gatherings reported in cities such as Boston, Nashville, and Houston, as well as smaller communities including Shelbyville and Howell.
Demonstrators carried signs opposing the war in Iran and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in neighbourhoods across the country.
Protests have also spread internationally, with American expatriates organising rallies in Paris, London, and Lisbon. Participants at these gatherings held signs criticising the president, with some calling for his impeachment and removal from office.
