Here’s what politicians have to say about ‘No Kings Day’
Millions of Americans gathered together in “No to Kings” protests across the country on Saturday, with elected leaders also participating in or mocking the marches.
About 2,600 demonstrations aimed at criticizing the Trump administration were planned in all 50 states. Protests were held in small towns and major cities, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, New Orleans, Miami and Portland, Oregon.
In Illinois, where President Trump sparred with Democratic Governor JB Pritzker over the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago and elsewhere, protests swept the state. In a post on the social media site X, Pritzker described the protests as “democracy in action.”
“Proud of our state for showing up peacefully and speaking together with one voice to respond to Donald Trump’s takeover of our democracy,” Pritzker wrote.
“There are no kings,” Pritzker said in a separate post. “Not now, not ever.”
“We will not bow,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D), who also addressed protesters in the city, posted on X. “We will not bow. We will not bow. Chicago will not submit to Trump’s tyranny and I will use every resource at my disposal to protect Chicago until Trump ends his war on workers in our city.”
And in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott (R) deployed the Texas National Guard and claimed the protests were “antifa-related,” the Austin Police Department praised those who gathered.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in the No Kings march today,” the administration said on social media. “The rally remained peaceful, and no arrests were reported. We are grateful to our community and event organizers for coming together to make sure voices were heard safely and respectfully. Great job ATX!”
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) took photos with protesters and wrote on the X, “Colorado bows to no kings.”
On the West Coast, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) thanked “all the patriots who peacefully made their voices heard throughout the state of Washington.”
“This is what democracy looks like!” She wrote on X. “We use our votes and votes. There are no kings in America!”
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) praised San Diego after the police department said 25,000 people participated in a “No Kings” protest in the city and no arrests were made.
North of San Diego, in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass (D) said there are 10 different marches across the city.
“There are tens of thousands of people peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights and completely rejecting military intervention in our cities,” Bass said on MSNBC’s “The Weekend: Primetime.”
Back in Washington, D.C., Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) met with the protesters and shook hands with them.
“From our nation’s capital to cities across California, millions stood shoulder to shoulder to say that our democracy is worth fighting for, that our voices will not be silenced, and that we will not sit idly by and allow a wannabe king to take our freedoms. Proud to stand alongside you,” Schiff wrote on
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was one of the speakers at the “No Kings” protest in Washington, where thousands gathered after the nation’s capital hosted no demonstrations on the first “No Kings Day” on June 14.
“Thank you to the millions of Americans who came out in small communities and big cities across this country to say loudly and boldly: No more kings,” Sanders wrote on social media Saturday afternoon. “In America, we the people will rule.”
But while Democrats participated in the protests or expressed support for them, Republicans — including the president himself — mocked them.
Trump shared on his social platform Truth Social an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown while flying a fighter jet. While Kenny Loggins’ song “Danger Zone” plays in the background, the plane flies over New York City’s Time Square and drops what appears to be feces at No Kings protesters.
Trump shared another AI-generated video, originally posted by Vice President Vance’s account on the Bluesky social media platform, of him wearing a crown before a cape forms over his shoulders and pulls out a sword. The video ends with a clip of Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), kneeling to honor George Floyd in 2020.
Schumer posted pictures of himself with demonstrators in New York City, adding, “We will not allow Trump to continue eroding our democracy.” But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) meanwhile shared a post on X as a comment below Schumer’s previous words about “No Kings Day.”
“If Trump were king, the government would be open right now,” reads a caption above a photo of the Declaration of Independence signing, which reads: “There really is an actual ‘Day Without Kings.’” “It’s the Fourth of July, which we call Independence Day.”
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) on Saturday shared a video of himself wearing a crown and holding a hamburger, outside a Burger King restaurant.
“In America, we don’t have a king, but we do have a good president in @realDonaldTrump,” Burchett wrote. “Celebrating the fact that I don’t have a British accent with a grilled burger from @BurgerKing.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also chimed in, retweeting a video of protesters in Carrollton, Texas, whom the original poster described as “almost exclusively elderly white people.”
“Boomers should thrive,” Cruz wrote above the video.
