“Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests Against Trump’s Parade: Live Updates from CNN, AP, Politico, PBS, NYT, Guardian & More”

June 15, 2025June 15, 2025

Key Points

It seems likely that millions participated in the “No Kings” protests against Trump, reflecting significant domestic unrest.
The protests, held on June 14, 2025, were the largest coordinated against Trump since his second administration began, with over 2,000 events nationwide.
Research suggests the movement opposes Trump’s policies, including immigration and civil rights, with varied public and official reactions.

Overview

The “No Kings” protests are a major social movement against President Donald Trump, involving millions across the U.S. on June 14, 2025, coinciding with a military parade and Trump’s birthday.

Scale and Impact

With over 2,000 protests planned, cities like Los Angeles and Boston saw tens of thousands, highlighting the movement’s scale and media attention

Purpose and Reactions

Protesters aimed to resist perceived abuses of power, like mass deportations, while Trump denied being a king, and some governors emphasized peaceful protest rights

Incident Details

On June 14, 2025, millions of Americans participated in over 2,000 protests across major cities and small towns nationwide, dubbed “No Kings” protests. These demonstrations were organized to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which also marked President Trump’s 79th birthday. The protests were described as the largest coordinated against Trump since the start of his second administration, reflecting significant domestic unrest

The protests followed several days of nationwide demonstrations against federal immigration raids, particularly in Los Angeles, where Trump’s deployment of the National Guard further agitated opponents

Purpose and Messaging

The “No Kings” protests were explicitly framed as a stand against what organizers described as Trump’s abuse of power. The movement’s website and statements from organizers cited reasons such as Trump’s defiance of courts, mass deportations, attacks on civil rights, and slashing of services

Deirdre Schifeling from the ACLU added, “No Kings is really about standing up for democracy…” highlighting the movement’s focus on democratic norms.

Scale and Participation

The scale of the protests was unprecedented, with estimates suggesting millions participated. Over 100 new events were planned in the past week, and social media posts, such as an X post by @FordJohnathan5, reported turnout above historical levels, with Los Angeles described as “unprecedented”

Government and Official Responses

President Trump responded to the protests by denying being a king, stating, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get things approved”

This stance drew criticism, with Deirdre Schifeling finding Trump’s denial “laughable.”

State governors also responded, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordering the deployment of over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and more than 2,000 state police in preparation for the protests .

Related Incidents and Security Concerns

The protests occurred amidst related incidents, including Trump’s deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, which drew a lawsuit from California Governor Gavin Newsom for overstepping authority .

Public and Media Reaction

The protests received extensive media coverage, with outlets like PBS reporting millions turning out nationwide, capping a week of demonstrations against immigration raids .

Comparative Context

The scale of the “No Kings” protests, with millions participating, places them among significant social movements in recent U.S. history. The estimated cost of the military parade, between $25 million and $45 million, with 60% of Americans saying it’s not a good use of funds, underscores public discontent, potentially fueling protest turnout .

Summary Table of Key Details

Aspect	Details
Event Name	No Kings protests
Date	June 14, 2025
Location	Over 2,000 cities and towns nationwide, none in Washington, D.C.
Purpose	Resistance to Trump’s policies, stand for democracy, rights, liberties against abuse of power
Organizing Groups	ACLU, Indivisible, Service Employees International Union, extensive list at [https://www.nokings.org/partners]
Estimated Participants	Millions, with tens of thousands in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston
Key Statements	Rep. Chuy Garcia: “Not normal times, not normal presidency”; Deirdre Schifeling: “Stand for democracy”
Trump’s Response	Denied being king, warned of force against disruptions
Security Measures	Texas deployed 5,000+ National Guard, Minnesota advised against attending events after shooting
Media Coverage	Extensive, with live streams and polarized social media reactions

This detailed analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding of the “No Kings” protests, addressing both the factual and social dimensions of the movement, and providing context for ongoing discourse and potential future developments.