No Kings protests (also called No Kings 2 and No Kings Day 2.0) took place on October 18, 2025, as part of a series of demonstrations taking place largely in the United States against Donald Trump's policies and actions during his second presidency. The demonstrations, which followed the June 2025 No Kings protests, took place in some 2,700 locations across the country, including the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City.
Organizers of the protests estimated that the protests drew nearly 7 million attendees, while a partnership between data journalist G. Elliott Morris and the Xylom, an independent Atlanta-based science newsroom, estimated 5 million to 6.5 million participants. Either estimate would make this one of the largest single-day protests in American history.
In January 2026, organizers announced plans to hold a third "No Kings" mass mobilization on March 28, 2026, in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, as well as the 2026 Minnesota general strike.
Background and organizers
The October 18, 2025, protests followed the No Kings protests in June, the Free America Weekend on July 4, and the Good Trouble Lives On protest on July 17. Indivisible was the main organizer, and more than 200 organizations worked together to organize the October protests, including 50501, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Federation of Teachers, Common Defense, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), the League of Conservation Voters, MoveOn, Public Citizen, United We Dream, and Working Families Power. Other organizers included Third Act Movement, Social Security Works, Communications Workers of America, Freedom From Religion Foundation, New York Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters and American Federation of Government Employees.
Outside the United States, protests were organized by Democrats Abroad. Various groups organized protests in the UK, including the Stop Trump Coalition.
Organizers were "adamant that the rallies remain peaceful", according to USA Today, and held virtual safety trainings ahead of the protests with help from the ACLU. According to The New York Times, "Many had attended a similar event in June, but the months since had seen President Trump make a dizzying array of changes in quick succession."
Pre-emptive responses
In the days leading up to the protests, several administration officials said that protesters were members of antifa, which Trump and his administration had labeled a "domestic terrorist organization" on par with ISIS. On October 13, United States transportation secretary Sean Duffy said protestors are "part of antifa". Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke of "people out there with thousands of signs that all match, pre-bought, pre-put together", which she attributed to antifa's high degree of organization, and pledged to "get to the root of antifa" and "find and charge all of those people who are causing this chaos". The Independent wrote that experts and civil right activists had warned that Trump was using the antifa label broadly against any opposition or dissent, and critics warned that his administration defining who is antifa, meaning a terrorist, risked a dangerous escalation against Trump's enemies, including Americans who march in what the government has labeled an antifa event.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said "It's all the pro-Hamas wing and the antifa people, they're all coming out," and that the group organizing the protest in Washington, D.C., was anti-American, while House majority whip Tom Emmer said that the "terrorist wing" of the Democratic party was set to hold them. They and House majority leader Steve Scalise called the protests a "Hate America" rally. Johnson also attacked the participants with: "Let's see who shows up for that. I bet you see pro-Hamas supporters. I bet you see Antifa types. I bet you see the Marxists in full display, the people who don't want to stand and defend the foundational truths of this republic."
The Trump administration said it would take anti-terrorist measures during the protests such as mobilizing the FBI, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said to Fox News that participants and the Democratic Party's main constituents were "made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals".
Duffy and senators Roger Marshall and Ted Cruz accused No Kings of using paid protesters. According to The Independent, Marshall baselessly laid the blame on George Soros, saying, "We'll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully it will be peaceful. I doubt it." Cruz also blamed Soros and urged to "cut off the money" behind "these rallies that may well turn into riots". He spoke of legislation he had introduced that would allow use of the RICO Act to prosecute the money he alleged was behind No Kings for "supporting rioting and violence", and said he had urged Attorney General Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel to prosecute.
Locations and activities
While most activities took place in the United States, some events were planned in Western Europe and Canada. Large groups of people gathered in Barcelona, Madrid, London, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, and other cities. Organizers asked participants to wear yellow attire.
Alabama
About 12 events were planned in Alabama. In Birmingham, 5,000 people gathered in Railroad Park, with speakers including former U.S. senator Doug Jones. 3,000 people demonstrated in Huntsville, and 400 people demonstrated in Guntersville. 600 people demonstrated in Montgomery, over 200 people demonstrated in Oxford, and 40 people demonstrated in Selma at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Demonstrations were also seen in Athens and Mobile. Additional protests were planned in Dadeville, Dothan, Fairhope, Phenix City, and Tuscaloosa.
Alaska
More than two dozen protests occurred in Alaska. 2,000 people gathered in Town Square Park in Anchorage, with speakers including Alaska State Senator Löki Tobin and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Tom Begich. 2,000 people also protested in Fairbanks, and 1,500 in Juneau. Protests also occurred in Dillingham, Girdwood, Gustavus, Haines, Healy, Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Seward, Sitka, Soldotna, Talkeetna, Valdez, and Wasilla.
Arizona
Over 60 protests occurred in Arizona from places like Tuba City to Nogales. About two dozen demonstrations were planned in the Phoenix metropolitan area, including in Anthem, Buckeye, Fountain Hills, Maricopa, San Tan Valley, and Sun City. Arizona's largest protest was in Phoenix, with around 15,000 protestors. This was three times the size of its June No Kings protest. An estimated 900 protestors met in Tempe at Cole Park, and organizers counted more than 4,300 protestors in Scottsdale. Over 5,000 protested at Flagstaff's city hall, and organizers estimated that 2,500 protested along a mile of State Route 69 in Prescott Valley while 1,600 protested along State Route 89A in Sedona.
Arkansas
Fifteen protests were planned in Arkansas, including in Batesville, Bentonville, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Heber Springs, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Monticello, Mountain Home, Rogers, and Russellville. Over 10,000 people participated in the Little Rock protest.
California
Southern California
Events took place in Burbank, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and San Diego. Over 80,000 people participated in protests across San Diego County, Further events were planned in Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Inglewood, Orange County, Santa Monica, and Pasadena.
Twelve adults and two juveniles were taken into custody after a protest in Los Angeles, although it is unclear what the charges were.
Northern California
About 160,000 protesters participated in Bay Area No Kings protests, including over 100,000 in San Francisco, 20,000 in Oakland, 10,000–15,000 in San Jose, 8,000–12,000 in Walnut Creek, 4,000 in San Mateo, 1,000 in Berkeley, and 500 in Colma. 15,000 people participated in a protest in Santa Cruz, while 3,000 did in nearby Watsonville. Protests were also planned in Alameda, Albany, Antioch, Benicia, El Sobrante, Fremont, Hayward, Hercules, Milpitas, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Redwood City, Sonoma, Sausalito, Sunnyvale, and Union City. On Ocean Beach, protesters formed a human banner saying that read “No Kings / Yes on 50,” referring to the California redistricting amendment Proposition 50.
Colorado
There were about 60 protests planned across Colorado, including outside the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. 13 people were arrested following Denver's protest, with police using smoke to disperse protesters. Thousands of Coloradans participated in No Kings demonstrations.
Connecticut
12,000 people gathered outside the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, with speakers including U.S. senator Richard Blumenthal, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. About 40 other protests were planned in cities around Connecticut, including Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Canton, Cornwall, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Guilford, Kent, Killingly, Litchfield, Middletown, Milford, Morris, Mystic, New Haven, New London, New Milford, Newtown, Norwich, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Salisbury, Somers, Southbury, Stamford, Tolland, Torrington, Waterbury, Westport, Willimantic, Windham, and Windsor.
Delaware
Protests in Delaware took place in Dover, Georgetown, Newark, and Wilmington. Thousands rallied in Newark and marched in Wilmington. Thousands protested along Route 1 near Rehoboth Beach and at The Circle in Georgetown. Over 400 protestors protested at another Georgetown protest along route 113. Organizers counted 1,300 protestors at the Dover protest outside Legislative Hall, which was hundreds more than its June No Kings protest.
Florida
About 80 events were planned in Florida. Over 5,000 people protested in Miami's Bayfront Park, who were met by counterprotests by two members of the Proud Boys, one of whom, Barry Ramey, had participated in the January 6 Capitol riot. Seven demonstrations were planned in Jacksonville; in Beaches, Downtown Jacksonville, Mandarin, Orange Park, and Ponte Vedra. Protests also took place in Clermont, Leesburg, and Mount Dora. Over 3,100 protestors were estimated at Vero Beach along State Road 60 and 58th Avenue.
In Central Florida, activities were planned in Casselberry, Lake Mary, Leesburg, Mount Dora, Orlando, and Poinciana.
Georgia
More than 30 events were planned in Georgia, including in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Carrollton, Cartersville, Columbus, Dalton, Fayetteville, Gainesville, Greensboro, Griffin, Hiram, Marietta, Newnan, Rincon, Savannah, Smyrna, Statesboro, Suwanee, Waycross, and Woodstock. Over 10,000 people met at the Atlanta Civic Center before a march started there. Senator Raphael Warnock spoke at the Atlanta rally, and over 35,000 protested in the city.
Hawaiʻi
In Hawaiʻi the protests were called the "No Dictators" movement instead of "No Kings" out of respect for the aliʻi of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Events were planned on the islands of Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi.
Idaho
In Idaho, the group Idaho 50501 organized a large protest in Boise at the Idaho Capitol building and in Cecil D. Andrus Park, with over 10,000 people in attendance. The protest lasted a little over an hour with a large march around downtown Boise afterwards. Southeast Idaho Citizens for Democracy organized an event in Pocatello. Over 2,000 people marched from Caldwell Park to the Bannock County Courthouse. Around 1,200 people participated in the protest in Idaho Falls.
Illinois
In Chicago, as many as 250,000 people took part in a demonstration in Grant Park, which included Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson as speakers. Other rallies were held in Arlington Heights, Elgin, Geneva, Lisle, Mount Prospect, Edwardsville, and Schaumburg.
Three men were arrested wearing tactical vests, and carrying replica guns with no orange tips and ammunition cards while traveling to multiple different protests. Fake flash bangs and lighter fluid were also recovered from their vehicle after their arrests.
Indiana
Some 44 events were planned across Indiana, including in Albion, Anderson, Angola, Auburn, Bedford, Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Corydon, Crown Point, Decatur, Delphi, Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Frankfort, Greencastle, Indianapolis, Kokomo, LaGrange, La Porte, Lebanon, Liberty, Logansport, Madison, Marion, Muncie, Nashville, New Albany, Plainfield, Richmond, South Bend, Terre Haute, Valparaiso, Vincennes, Warsaw, and West Lafayette.
Iowa
In Iowa, thousands of people protested at over two dozen planned demonstrations. Over 12,000 people protested outside the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. 200-300 people protested at events in Indianola and Ankeny, while hundreds protested at O'Neil Park in Ames.