Truly, There Are No Kings or Queens in the United States

Chhabed Sathee

Across the United States, nearly 2,000 peaceful demonstrations were held on Saturday, October 18, in observance of “No Kings Day.” Millions of Americans participated, protesting President Trump’s attacks on the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law. The movement continues the spirit of the first “No Kings Day,” which was launched on June 14, Trump’s 79th birthday.

Large demonstrations took place across major U.S. cities including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles, opposing President Donald Trump’s policies. Within hours of starting on Saturday morning, thousands gathered in New York City’s iconic Times Square.

At subway entrances and on streets, protesters held banners reading, “Democracy, not monarchy,” and “The Constitution is not optional.”

Numerous non-profit organizations joined the protests, as did patriotic Republicans, Democrats, independents, and third-party supporters — all united by President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal ideal: “That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

America’s greatness has always rested on the wisdom of the Constitution — guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms that much of the world can only dream of. Yet the nation has often failed to live up to its ideals, especially through slavery and institutional discrimination against Black people, other minorities, and women — injustices that have lessened but not vanished.

Unfortunately, Trump has not sought to defend these ideals; rather, he openly disregards them.

Trump has publicly praised authoritarian rulers — from Russia, China, and North Korea — who rule with iron fists. He has claimed that Article II of the Constitution gives him “the power to do whatever I want” as president.

This alarming interpretation has been widely condemned by legal experts. According to The New York Times, after consulting 35 legal scholars, many of Trump’s actions were deemed illegal and unconstitutional — including attempts to end birthright citizenship, refusal to spend billions appropriated by Congress, imposing tariffs without congressional approval, deporting immigrants without due process, and demanding free legal services from law firms.

He has also threatened to withhold federal funding from universities that don’t comply with his policies, restrict journalists, and illegally fire officials of independent oversight agencies.

Trump has weaponized the Justice Department for revenge, targeting former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. He has unjustly fired thousands of federal employees and forced many more into early retirement.

He has sent the National Guard into cities governed by Democratic mayors under the pretense of “emergency orders,” without state or local authorization.

He has endangered national security by firing officials he deemed “disloyal,” and appointed dangerously unqualified figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary. His refusal to compromise with Democrats has led to government shutdowns and jeopardized healthcare for over 22 million Americans.

These are only partial examples of Trump’s authoritarian power grab. He acts first and waits to be sued later — banking on the support of the six Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, who often side with him.

Columbia Law Professor David Pozen stated that this administration’s contempt for civil liberties, political pluralism, separation of powers, and legal limits “marks it unmistakably as authoritarian.”

Before Trump, members of Congress — even when opposing their own party’s president — defended their constitutional authority.

For instance, many Democrats criticized President Lyndon Johnson’s Vietnam War policies. Republicans stood up against Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal, ultimately forcing his resignation to avoid impeachment and removal.

But in Trump’s second term, a fearful, Republican-dominated Congress has grown even more submissive — afraid Trump might support primary challengers against them. Thus, they’ve handed him near-unlimited power — a grave threat to American liberty.

Many of us learned to type the phrase: “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
Today, we must add women to that call — and embrace it as a rallying cry for peaceful civic resistance, as America faces the shadow of tyranny. We must remain a nation with no kings and no queens.

Before the protests, Trump allies accused organizers of ties to left-wing Antifa groups, labeling the movement an “anti-American hate rally.”

Independent writer and editor Beth Jasloff said she joined the New York protest because she was “outraged and heartbroken” by the Trump administration’s slide toward fascism and dictatorship. “I love New York City,” she said. “Seeing so many people together gives me hope again.”

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has expanded presidential powers through executive orders that dismantled parts of the federal government and deployed the National Guard to cities despite governors’ objections.

He has directed federal law enforcement to prosecute his political opponents. Trump insists his actions are necessary to “rebuild a broken nation,” dismissing accusations of dictatorship as “madness.”

Critics warn, however, that many of his actions are unconstitutional and dangerous to democracy.

Massimo Mascoli, a 68-year-old retired electronics engineer from New Jersey who grew up in Italy, said he joined the protest fearing America was repeating Italy’s dark history. “My uncle left Mussolini’s army to join the resistance — he was tortured and killed by fascists. I never thought I’d see fascism’s shadow again, 80 years later, here in the U.S.,” he said.

Organizers confirmed that all protests on Saturday remained peaceful. The “No Kings” movement’s website declared nonviolence as its core principle and urged participants to avoid confrontations.

In New York, crowds chanted in unison to drumbeats, bells, and horns: “This is what democracy looks like!” Helicopters and drones hovered overhead, while police stood by.

The NYPD reported that over 100,000 people across all five boroughs participated peacefully, with no arrests. A police officer in Times Square said more than 20,000 marched along 7th Avenue alone.

Mascoli added that his greatest concern was over immigration crackdowns and healthcare cuts affecting millions of Americans. “We can’t rely on the Supreme Court, the government, or Congress,” he told the BBC. “Legislative, executive, and judicial — everything is now against the people. So we fight.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also joined the protest, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “There are no dictators in America — and we will not let Trump destroy our democracy.” He shared a photo holding a sign reading “Fix the Healthcare Crisis.”

In Washington, D.C., Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont delivered the keynote address, declaring: “We are here not to hate America, but to love it.”

At the D.C. rally, a man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat told the BBC he came “just to see what’s happening.” Although one woman insulted him, he said most people treated him respectfully.

Protests weren’t limited to the U.S. — solidarity rallies were also held in Berlin, Madrid, and Rome. In London, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. Embassy. Similar scenes unfolded in Toronto, where demonstrators held signs reading, “Hands off Canada.”

In a Fox News interview teaser aired before the broadcast, Trump said, “‘A king’? This isn’t an act. They’re calling me a king. I’m not a king.”

Republican Senator Roger Marshall told CNN that the National Guard might need to be deployed, adding, “I hope it stays peaceful, but I doubt it.” Some Republican governors had already activated Guard units in advance.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott mobilized the National Guard on Thursday, claiming “Antifa-linked protests” were planned in Austin.

Democrats — including state Rep. Gene Wu — condemned the move, saying, “Sending armed troops to suppress peaceful protests is exactly what kings and dictators do — and Greg Abbott just proved he’s one of them.”

Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin also ordered activation of the state’s Guard, though reports indicated no troops appeared at rallies.

In Washington, D.C., the National Guard remained on standby under Trump’s order since August, but only local police were visible during the protests.

One demonstrator in the capital held a sign reading, “I am Antifa.”

Seventy-six-year-old Chuck Eppes said the term has been “distorted,” explaining that for him, it means supporting “peace, childcare, fair wages, healthcare, immigrants, and diversity.”

“Trump is trying to mislead everyone,” he said, “but it’s not working. Americans are deeply divided over Trump.”

A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 40% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance, while 58% disapprove — matching his first-term average but below the 47% approval he held when beginning his second term in January 2025.

Historically, presidents’ approval ratings decline over time. According to Reuters/Ipsos, Joe Biden’s approval fell from 55% in January 2021 to 46% by October of that year.

Chhabed Sathee: U.S based writer, journalist and American political analyst. Editor Bangla Press.

BP/SM