No Kings:
Protests against the Trump administration will take place across the US on Saturday under the slogan"No Kings." Millions of people are expected to attend.
October 18, 2025
Sat 21:22
5 million protest against Trump administration
More than 2,000 so-called No Kings protests are still taking place in countless major US cities: a total of five to six million Americans are said to have gathered to express their displeasure with the Trump administration and its domestic policy.
In the capital, Washington, D.C., alone, around 200,000 people are said to have gathered at the National Mall; according to organizers, about the same number gathered in New York. In Chicago, around 80,000 people also took to the streets.
Meanwhile, demonstrations against Trump are also taking place in the western United States: In Los Angeles, approximately 70,000 to 100,000 participants are said to have gathered for the protests, and in San Francisco, about 50,000. So far, the rallies have been peaceful. (bho)
October 18, 2025
Sat 18:44
No-Kings protests begin
Planned rallies against President Donald Trump began across the US on Saturday, with millions of people expected to attend throughout the day."The president is a disgrace, and I hope millions take to the streets today," said Stephanie, a hospital worker in New York who declined to give her last name. The 36-year-old was among several hundred demonstrators who gathered in the morning (local time) to protest against Trump.
Participants chanted slogans including"We love our country, we can't stand Trump." They also held signs reading "No Kings," referring to the slogan of the demonstrations planned across the country on Saturday.
The president believes his rule is absolute. But in America, we have no kings, said the website of the No Kings movement, which unites around 300 organizations. We will not retreat from chaos, corruption, and cruelty. (AFP)
October 18, 2025
Sat 15:38
Department of Homeland Security warns of possible violence
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an intelligence report prior to the protests, warning law enforcement agencies across the country of the possibility that certain events could turn violent. However, the report, obtained by CNN, did not provide any evidence of concrete or credible threats and did not name any specific protests.
According to DHS, law enforcement agencies should look for certain warning signs, including the participation of protesters who have used legal protests to commit violence in the past and participants who have received paramilitary training.
The organization behind the No Kings events, however, emphasizes its commitment to nonviolent resistance. The events are attended by a broad coalition of participants of different ages and backgrounds.
October 18, 2025
Sat 15:17
President Trump on the protests
In an interview with Fox Business on Friday, President Donald Trump addressed the nationwide protests planned for today. According to CNN, he suggested that Democrats had delayed negotiations to reopen the government because of the widespread protests."I mean, some people say they want to delay [reopening the government] because of this—because of the king—but this isn't a king," Trump said."You know, that's what they say. They call me a king. I'm not."
October 18, 2025
Sat 12:39
Organizer: Many of us are angry
Darcy is one of the organizers of today's rally. We organized this event completely spontaneously, without much notice—and yet it's become bigger than we expected. Everyone here has their own motivation for doing so.
Many of us are angry about the National Guard in the cities, about laws being flouted, about the lack of commitment to climate justice and abortion rights. Too much is happening that is no longer acceptable. She emphasizes: Trump has poor poll numbers – the majority of people don't want this course.
But solidarity from the Swiss is also needed. What's happening affects us all – authoritarian tendencies are an international problem. It needs everyone, everywhere.
October 18, 2025
Sat 12:05
This is not the America we believed in
In her speech, one of the organizers pointed out that Donald Trump has been in office for 270 days—but for many, it already feels like years. This is not the America we believed in. It affects us all. When democracy falters, no country is truly safe. That's why we say no, she explained.
She also commented on Switzerland's role: Neutrality should not be confused with indifference, she said. One shouldn't agree to everything out of fear of economic consequences. Democracy thrives on people's engagement – because, she said, if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.
Afterwards, a reading is made from the Bill of Rights, which, among other things, enshrines freedom of religion and the press.
October 18, 2025
Sat 11:44
11:44
The USA symbolizes a development that we also observe in Europe
Jay (51) is Irish and British and has lived in Switzerland for 20 years. This atmosphere of division in society, which is being fueled by politicians, is terrible. The fact that we are being set against each other acts like a cancer that destroys social coexistence. The USA, he says, symbolizes a development that he also observes in Germany, Turkey, and Great Britain. That's not right. We need cooperation and mutual respect. That's why it's so important to come here and make a statement.
October 18, 2025
Sat 11:28
11:28
This simply cannot continue
Krista (44) and Gerald (72) traveled from Austria especially for the demonstration. They want to make a statement, they say."I'm really upset—I was shocked the first time Trump came to power," says the American.
She is particularly shocked by what's happening with the immigration authorities (ICE). Things simply can't go on like this. She also emphasizes:"The healthcare system is also a disaster: One of my best friends can barely afford her medication, and now everything is getting even more expensive."
Sat 11:21
Concerned Americans demonstrate in Zurich
Several people also gathered in Zurich on Saturday morning for a No Kings protest. One of them was Scott (49). He grew up in California but has lived in Switzerland for many years.
What's currently happening in the US government doesn't correspond to my idea of a functioning democracy. I'm glad we're still allowed to speak openly about such things here. He was deeply concerned about developments in the US: Authoritarian tendencies are on the rise, and the separation of powers no longer seems to be functioning properly. The legislative branch remains largely inactive, the courts are attempting to counteract this, but the executive branch is becoming increasingly dominant.
Scott explains that there are also Trump supporters in his family. However, politics is rarely discussed in order to maintain family peace.
But what good does a protest against the Trump administration in Zurich achieve? I believe we can make a difference. I hope that some of those passing by will reflect – and realize that they, too, disagree with the developments in the US.
October 18, 2025
Saturday
De-escalation training and education about rights
Indivisible, a nonprofit organizing the protest, has trained tens of thousands of people in safety and de-escalation, according to CNN. Organizers are also working directly with cities where the National Guard is present to ensure they are prepared, said co-executive director Leah Greenberg.
In other areas, organizers have been working to educate protesters about their rights in case troops show up in unexpected locations. We don't anticipate the need to deploy the National Guard, but if the Trump administration attempts to do so to intimidate peaceful protests, we are prepared, said Deirdre Schifeling of the ACLU.
October 18, 2025
Saturday
Will the National Guard be called in?
Some leading Republicans condemned Saturday's planned protests. House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed the rallies contributed to the ongoing government shutdown and suggested, according to CNN, that participants included Hamas supporters and Antifa members.
Other lawmakers have described the protests as anti-American rallies. Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas warned:"We have to call in the National Guard." He doubted the demonstrations were peaceful.
Texas sends National Guard to Austin
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is also said to have ordered the state's National Guard to send troops to Austin on Thursday.
Texas Democrats strongly condemned this move. Sending armed troops to suppress peaceful protests is something kings and dictators do—and Greg Abbott just proved he's one of them, said Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu on Thursday.
October 18, 2025
Saturday
250 more demos than in June
In June, according to organizers, more than five million participants in around 2,100 US cities demonstrated against Trump under the slogan"No Kings." The reason was a military parade he had requested in Washington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Army, which coincided with his 79th birthday. According to CNN, around five million people took to the streets at the time. For the second wave of protests on Saturday, around 250 more demonstrations are planned in all 50 states than in the summer.
The protests in June remained largely peaceful. However, tear gas was used in downtown Los Angeles to disperse demonstrators. According to police, rocks and bottles were thrown from the crowd. In New York, several protesters were arrested, CNN reported.
October 18, 2025
Saturday
Over 2600 demos planned
Millions of people are expected to demonstrate against President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday under the slogan"No Kings." Organizers of the more than 2,600 demonstrations across the country are expecting record participation. Among other things, the deployment of National Guard troops to several cities governed by the opposition Democrats has recently caused outrage.
Protests are planned in New York, San Francisco, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, and many smaller cities. (AFP)
