In the US, seven million people protested against Donald Trump on Saturday. They took to the streets in 2,700 cities across all 50 states. The US president initially appeared calm – but then made a bizarre outburst on"Truth Social."

The nationwide demonstrations were colorful and peaceful, but their issues were tough and unequivocal. People accused US President Donald Trump of wanting to rule the US like a king with his style of government, thereby threatening democracy."No Kings" was therefore the slogan. It was the second demonstration of this kind. This time, two million more people turned out.

The largest demonstrations took place in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Orleans – but citizens also gathered in smaller cities, either on the side of roads or in front of city halls, to express their protest against Trump.

Banners depicted the president as the embodiment of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, as the Queen of England, or as the Sun King Louis XIV. Most called for him to resign. Other participants demanded the abolition of the immigration enforcement agency ICE, which has been cracking down on irregular immigrants for months at Trump's direction.

Leading Republican politicians sharply criticized the demonstrators. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters it was an"America hate rally." The organizers were bringing together "Marxists, socialists, Antifa supporters, anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the radical left Democratic Party," Johnson said. Trump himself was initially very reserved about the protests, by his standards. On Fox News, he simply said:"I am not a king."

Then, however, the 79-year-old made a tasteless slip-up on his social media, showing protesters in New York being doused with feces from a fighter jet. The pilot in the cockpit appears to be Donald Trump himself, and the inscription on the side of the plane reads"King Trump." The clip went viral and sparked controversy.

Trump features one young man particularly prominently in his video. He's taking a selfie video when he's hit by falling feces. He's said to be 23-year-old political commentator and social media influencer Harry Sisson, who supports Democratic Party politics, as reported by The Economic Times and others."Can a reporter please ask Trump why he posted an AI video of him throwing feces at me from a fighter jet?" Sisson asked on X."That would be great, thanks."

“The president believes his power is absolute”

Already on June 14, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against Trump in several US cities under the slogan"No Kings." The occasion was a military parade in Washington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US military, which Trump had requested and which coincided with his 79th birthday. Now, the protests from that time appear to be evolving into a mass movement."The president believes his power is absolute," the event's website states: "But in America, we have no kings."

The protests remained peaceful until the evening. CNN reported an incident in South Carolina in which a woman allegedly drove past a protest with a gun drawn—she was arrested.

Trump had warned his supporters about the demonstrators, saying they were prepared to use violence and dangerous. Democrats accuse the president of deliberately fueling escalation, partly to normalize the use of the military against dissidents. Several Democratic-governed cities and states are taking legal action against the deployment of the National Guard to their communities.

In New York, the demonstrators dressed up

In New York City, there were protests at several locations; according to police, more than 100,000 people participated peacefully. A protest marshal in Times Square said the crowd filled the street south to Union Square—a distance of several kilometers. Participants expressed concern about the state of US democracy."We are at the tipping point of fascism," said a young woman named Meg. Stephanie, 93, explained that she had protested against the Vietnam War and lived through many presidents,"but this one is so bad that we have to do something."

Artist Michael said that those in power in the US – white men – deliberately pit people of different backgrounds, races, and sexualities against each other to maintain their own political power. Colorful, inflatable costumes were conspicuous in New York."I want to refute the narrative that we are dangerous or violent," said Michelle, who was dressed as a rabbit."We defend our country with joy."

In Pittsburgh they sang a song for children

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, thousands of people gathered in the city center. Participants sang the song"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" by Fred Rogers – famously featured on a children's show produced in Pittsburgh that shaped generations. With this gesture, they wanted to send a message of solidarity and community, against fear and violence, particularly with regard to the rights of immigrants, it was said. US flags flew above the crowd, and many of the demonstrators were dressed as"royalty," while the organizers declared: "Nothing is more patriotic than peaceful dissent."

In Washington, many dismissed civil servants

In the US capital, Washington, where thousands took to the streets, many federal employees are currently on furlough due to the partial government shutdown or have already been laid off as part of cuts. CNN quoted one protester as saying he has worked in the civil service for 20 years – and the Trump administration is about to destroy it.

Boston – “Hands off our neighbors”

In Boston, Massachusetts, numerous people gathered in central Boston Common Park. Signs read,"No to autocracy, yes to democracy" and "Hands off our neighbors." From a stage, someone shouted,"Fight back – No Kings," to which the crowd chanted,"No Kings!"

In California they know the importance of migrants

At a major intersection in the small California town of Truckee, the protest of several thousand people was colorful, peaceful, and accompanied by loud honking. Demonstrator Glenna said of Trump that she was tired of being insulted:"He dehumanizes us and labels us as un-American," she added."We must protect migrants." Without them, nothing would work in a tourist area like Lake Tahoe, just a few kilometers south.

Even in Texas, hundreds

According to local media, hundreds of people also gathered in El Paso, Texas. One sign read about Trump:"The poor old, crazy king doesn't understand: democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers."

The protests are being supported nationwide by prominent Democrats such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The goal is to create a sense of collective identity among those who feel persecuted or unsettled by the Trump administration, they said.

There were also accompanying demonstrations outside the USA: Several hundred people gathered in front of the US Embassy in London, and people also took to the streets in Madrid and Barcelona.