‘No Kings’ protests recap: Millions rallied against Trump, organizers say

While the protests remained largely peaceful, there were several violent outbursts, including in Salt Lake City, where a gunman opened fire and left one person in “life-threatening condition.”

'No Kings' demonstrations around the country protest Trump's military parade

“No Kings” demonstrators marched in hundreds of cities on Saturday to protest what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda, including recent immigration raids that have rattled communities across the country. Millions of people were estimated to have joined the protests in over 2,000 communities.

The protests occurred the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C., officially commemorating the Army’s 250th anniversary, but seen by many as a spectacle in service of President Donald Trump’s Saturday birthday.

The protests remained largely peaceful, though there were several violent outbursts, including in Salt Lake City, where a gunman opened fire and left one person in “life-threatening condition.” Authorities acted swiftly and apprehended the alleged gunman, as well as two others they believe were involved in the shooting.

Drivers also struck protesters in both San Francisco and Virginia, and a threat against lawmakers in Texas prompted the evacuation of the state capitol building.

The flashes of violence come after a week of chaotic protests in Los Angeles. About 30,000 joined “No Kings” protests around the city on Saturday, largely without incident, though police deployed flash bang grenades, tear gas and officers on horseback to disperse a crowd outside a federal building downtown.

A White House official dismissed the “No Kings” protests as a “complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance.”

Key points

• From San Fran to Mar-a-Lago: Thousands march for ‘No Kings’
• Curfew takes effect in Los Angeles
• In Los Angeles, 'No Kings' protests join existing unrest
• At least one injured as vehicle hits San Francisco marchers
• Another reported auto incident at 'No Kings' protest, this one in Virginia
• Trump official blasts 'No Kings' protests as 'utter failure'
• Where arrests have taken place during 'No Kings' protests

[14 June 2025 11:13 · Holly Bancroft]

Protests expected at around 2,000 locations across the US

Protests against the Trump administration are expected at around 2,000 sites across the US on Saturday.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of one of the groups behind the protests, Indivisible, said: “We’ve seen hundreds of new events on the No Kings Day map since the weekend. We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people register for those events.”

The demonstrations will protest against president Donald Trump’s deportations, attacks on civil rights, and challenges to the courts, according to organisers.

A website for the protest says: “The corruption has gone too far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings”.

[14 June 2025 11:21 · Holly Bancroft]

Protests to take place as Trump military parade rolls through Washington

As millions of Americans protest against the Trump administration across the US on Saturday, a military parade will be on display in Washington DC.

President Donald Trump’s military parade will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which happens to coincide with Mr Trump’s 79th birthday.

The parade is expected to cost up to $45million and will involve seven million pounds of machinery and weaponry.

The parade will begin with a fitness competition and an official ceremony to celebrate the army’s anniversary. Some 6,700 soldiers are expected to then march down Constitution Avenue Northwest, past the White House.

Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache helicopters will also fly over the procession. Mr Trump has said that the event will let Americans “celebrate a little bit” as “we’ve had a lot of victories”.

The flagship rally in protest at Mr Trump’s administration is planned for Philadelphia, with 60,000-80,000 people expected to attend.

[14 June 2025 11:27 · Holly Bancroft]

'We will make an example of you', warn Republican governors

Florida governor Ron De Santis has warned anti-Trump protesters that he is ready to “make an example of” any demonstrators that start rioting.

Speaking in a news conference this week, he said: “The minute you cross into attacking law enforcement, any type of rioting, any type of vandalism, looting, just be prepared to have the law come down on you. And we will make an example of you - you can guarantee it.”

Texas governor Greg Abbott has already vowed to deploy the national guard against protesters. He posted on social media platform X that “peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested.” He then added: “FAFO”, thought to be an acronym for f*** around and find out.

[14 June 2025 12:29 · Holly Bancroft]

'Democracy is going to reassert itself', protest organiser says

One of the organisers of Saturday’s protests have said that the demonstrations will be a chance for democracy to “reassert itself”.

Speaking to MSNBC, Ezra Levin, co-founder of the anti-Trump organisation Indivisible, said: “This is an opportunity to send a very clear message that democracy is gonna reassert itself, and that’s a message, not to Donald Trump. He’s the least important figure tomorrow.

“That’s a message to the marginal figures in our democracy, whether they’re leaders or they’re institutions who are trying to decide how to behave today, and they need to know that people are gonna reassert democracy”.

Read more here:

[14 June 2025 13:28 · Holly Bancroft]

Trump insists he's ‘not a king at all’ as he’s pressed on abuse of power concerns

President Donald Trump has denied having any monarchical pretensions ahead of the military parade that coincides with his 79th birthday, The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg writes.

Speaking in the East Room during an impromptu press conference after signing legislation to block California’s ability to regulate vehicle emissions and push for more electric vehicle sales in an effort to protect the state’s air quality, Trump was asked about protests planned for Saturday as part of what organizers are calling “No Kings Day” to coincide with the parade, which is ostensibly meant to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

Trump replied: “I don't feel like a king” and proceeded to complain that he must “go through hell” to get anything done under America’s constitutional system, which strictly divides the federal government’s authority between executive, legislative and judicial branches.

(Getty Images)

[14 June 2025 14:31 · Holly Bancroft]

Most US adults do not think Trump’s $45M military parade is ‘a good use of money,’ poll finds

A new poll has found that a majority of Americans don’t think the massive militaryparade that President Donald Trump has ordered up for his 79th birthday on Saturday is a good use of taxpayer dollars, even as most adults either approve of the parade itself or have no opinion of the plan.

An Associated Press and NORC survey of 1,158 adults across all 50 U.S. states asked respondents whether they believe the parade, which is ostensibly meant to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, is “a good use of government funds” or “not a good use of government funds”, writes White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg.

[14 June 2025 14:45 · Andrea Cavallier]

Dozens of vets arrested outside US Capitol ahead of parade

On the eve of Trump’s military parade, nearly 75 veterans and their family members were arrested outside the US Capitol after reportedly breaching a police line of bike racks and approaching the steps leading to the Capitol Rotunda, according to the Capitol Police.

Organizers with the two groups – About Face: Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace – said they were planning to hold a sit-in in the U.S. Capitol in protest of the presence of military members on the nation’s streets, AP reported. That includes for Saturday’s military parade, as well as National Guard and active-duty Marines in Los Angeles.

“A few people pushed the bike rack down and illegally crossed the police line while running towards the Rotunda Steps,” the Capitol Police said. “Our officers immediately blocked the group and began making arrests.”

“All will be charged with unlawful demonstration and crossing a police line,” police added. “Additional charges for some will include assault on a police officer and resisting arrest.”

[14 June 2025 14:46 · Andrea Cavallier]

Live: Anti-Trump activists protest as military parade marks 250th anniversary of US Army

[14 June 2025 15:06 · Andrea Cavallier]

Thousands gather for ‘No Kings’ rally in Atlanta

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Atlanta for a “No Kings” rally.

Many are carrying American flags. One woman is holding a sign that says “when cruelty becomes normal, compassion looks radical,” CNN reports.

She said “there’s just so much going on in this country that’s not OK, and if no one speaks up about it, who will?”

[14 June 2025 15:32 · Andrea Cavallier]

Trump promises parade will go on despite threat of rain

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• From San Fran to Mar-a-Lago: Thousands march for ‘No Kings’
• <a href=\"/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-military-parade-no-kings-protest-live-b2769900.html?page=5#post-2093735\">Curfew takes effect in Los Angeles
• <a href=\"/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-military-parade-no-kings-protest-live-b2769900.html?page=4#post-2093686\">In Los Angeles, 'No Kings' protests join existing unrest
• <a href=\"/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-military-parade-no-kings-protest-live-b2769900.html?page=3#post-2093661\">At least one injured as vehicle hits San Francisco marchers
• <a href=\"/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-military-parade-no-kings-protest-live-b2769900.html?page=3#post-2093654\">Another reported auto incident at 'No Kings' protest, this one in Virginia
• Trump official blasts 'No Kings' protests as 'utter failure'
• <a href=\"/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-military-parade-no-kings-protest-live-b2769900.html?page=5#post-2093730\">Where arrests have taken place during 'No Kings' protests

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