Widespread demonstrations against Trump sweep the nation on 'No Kings' day

Saturday saw massive protests sweep across the United States, with huge crowds gathering to express their outrage against President Donald Trump's governing style, immigration policies, and the conflict with Iran, as organizers claimed at least 8 million people participated in over 3,300 events nationwide.

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These events, which took place in all 50 states, from large cities to small towns, marked the third time in less than a year that Americans have taken to the streets as part of the "No Kings" grassroots movement, which has become a vocal and visible platform for opposition to Trump since his second term began in January 2025.

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In New York City, tens of thousands of protesters, including Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, a frequent critic of Trump, rallied against the president, with De Niro describing him as "an existential threat to our freedoms and security".

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Protests also unfolded in other cities, including Atlanta and San Diego, with residents of Alaska joining in later in the day, as 36-year-old military veteran Marc McCaughey told AFP in Atlanta that "no country can govern without the consent of the people" and expressed concerns that the Constitution is under threat.

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In the town of West Bloomfield, Michigan, people braved freezing temperatures to protest, while in Washington, thousands of marchers, carrying banners with slogans like "Trump Must Go Now!" and "Fight Fascism", gathered on the National Mall.

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Speaking to AFP, 67-year-old retiree Robert Pavosevich expressed his frustration with Trump, saying "he keeps lying and lying and lying, and no one says anything, so it's a terrible situation we're in", as the president spent the weekend in Florida.

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The anti-Trump sentiment has also spread beyond US borders, with rallies taking place in European cities such as Amsterdam, Madrid, and Rome, where 20,000 people marched under heavy police presence.

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The first "No Kings" nationwide protest day was held last June on Trump's 79th birthday, coinciding with a military parade he organized in Washington, and saw several million people turn out, from New York to San Francisco.

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The second protest, in October, drew an estimated seven million protesters, according to organizers, who reported that Saturday's events saw one million more participants and 600 additional demonstrations.

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Trump's approval rating has fallen below 40 percent, with midterm elections looming in November, and his Republican Party at risk of losing control of both chambers of Congress, as critics condemn his use of executive decrees, prosecution of opponents, and climate change denial.

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Naveed Shah of Common Defense, a veterans' association connected to the "No Kings" movement, stated that "since the last time we marched, this administration has dragged us deeper into war", and criticized the government's actions at home, including the killing of citizens by militarized forces and the targeting of immigrant communities.

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In Minnesota, a key focus point for the protests, leftist US politician Bernie Sanders addressed the crowd, saying "we will never accept a president who is a pathological liar, a kleptocrat, and a narcissist who is undermining the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law every day".

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Legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen performed his song "Streets of Minneapolis" in St. Paul, the state capital, where tens of thousands gathered, after writing and recording the protest ballad in 24 hours in memory of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two US citizens shot dead by federal agents during January protests against Trump's immigration crackdown.

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Before performing, Springsteen paid tribute to the two victims, saying "their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten".