Nationwide Protests Against Trump Administration Draw Millions on Saturday
Millions of Americans across all 50 states are participating in protests today, October 18, 2025, against the Trump administration, voicing concerns over what they perceive as a slide toward authoritarianism and rejecting the notion of a leader with unchecked power.
Events are scheduled in over 2,700 locations, ranging from small towns to major cities like Washington D.C., San Francisco, and New York City. The protests, dubbed “No Kings,” represent a resurgence of the coalition that mobilized in June for one of the largest protest days in U.S. history. Demonstrators are responding to actions taken by the Trump administration, including attempts to deploy federal troops to cities, increased immigration enforcement, and efforts to criminalize dissent against the government. Several states, including Texas, have announced the deployment of National Guard troops to protest locations; Governor Greg Abbott stated he will send the state’s guard to Austin in advance of demonstrations.
Organizers have emphasized a commitment to nonviolent resistance, with tens of thousands of participants receiving training in safety and de-escalation tactics. “What’s most important as a message for people to carry is that the president wants us to be scared, but we will not be bullied into fear and silence,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen. The protests are fueled by concerns over the administration’s actions, including alleged attempts to secure a third term and perceived overreach of executive power, as detailed in reports from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union. The June protests, estimated by the Harvard Crowd Counting Consortium to have drawn between 2 and 4.8 million participants, signaled a growing wave of opposition to the administration’s policies.
Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Chris Murphy, along with Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, are expected to attend protests in various cities. These demonstrations come as the administration faces ongoing legal challenges from cities resisting federal intervention and as concerns mount over the erosion of democratic norms – a trend that could have lasting implications for the balance of power in the United States. Officials have indicated they are monitoring the protests closely and will respond to any instances of violence or unlawful activity.
