Rallies against President Donald Trump are expected across the U.S. on Saturday to coincide with the military parade in Washington marking the Army’s 250th anniversary, which also falls on Trump’s birthday. Trump warned that protests in the capital will be “met with very big force.”
Tensions flared this week after Trump deployed 4,700 troops to the Los Angeles area to respond to protests there challenging immigration raids, a decision California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked the courts to block.
Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration are set to rally in hundreds of cities on Saturday during the military parade in Washington to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with Trump’s birthday.
The “No Kings” protests are set to take place to counter what organizers say are Trump’s plans to feed his ego on his 79th birthday and Flag Day. “No Kings” will follow several days of nationwide protests against federal immigration raids including in Los Angeles, where Trump's deployment of the National Guard further agitated his opponents.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is following the president's cue. Abbott said Thursday that he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, in response to the ongoing demonstrations and in preparation for the “No Kings" protests.
The Army birthday celebration had already been planned. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to ratchet up the event to include 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets. He has long sought a similar display of patriotic force.
Why is it called ‘No Kings’?
The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Protests earlier this year have denounced Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk, the now former leader of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, a government organization designed to slash federal spending. Protesters have called for Trump to be “dethroned” as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president.
“They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services,” the group says on its website, referring to the Trump administration and its policies. “They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”
Where will the protests happen?
Protests in nearly 2,000 locations are scheduled around the country, from city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, organizers said.
No protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., however, where the military parade will be held. The group says it will “make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”
“No Kings” plans instead to hold a flagship march and rally in Philadelphia to draw a clear contrast between its people-powered movement and what organizers described on their website as the “costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade” in Washington.
What is planned at the ‘No Kings’ protests?
People of all ages are expected to come together in the protest locations for speeches, marching, carrying signs and waving American flags, organizers said in a call Wednesday.
On the group's website, it says a core principle behind all “No Kings” events is a commitment to nonviolent action, and participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation.
No weapons of any kind should be taken to “No Kings” events, according to the website.
California law enforcement agencies on alert
LA Sheriff Robert Luna said his department is at nearly double the normal staffing level ahead of at least 40 different demonstrations expected Saturday and major weekend sporting events.
The California Highway Patrol said it is on tactical alert, which means days off for officers have been cancelled, in response to more than 200 protests planned statewide.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said his department is “very heavily deployed” in preparation. Asked about the recent arrival of Marines and their role in the city, McDonnell said he “wouldn’t call it coordination.”
“We know where they are, we know that they are doing their mission which is, as we’re told, to support federal employees, functions, and facilities, he said. “What their mission is not is to work with us on the streets to maintain order, restore order and keep everybody safe.”
However McDonnell said he and Luna were on a call with military leadership Thursday to open lines of communication.
Washington governor calls for peaceful protests
Gov. Bob Ferguson took to social media Friday to make his call for peaceful protests over the weekend, to ensure the military is not sent to the state.
He said on the social platform X that people have a right, even a duty, to express their opinions, and Trump’s activation of the military in California “is deeply disturbing.”
The state is prepared to fight back if Trump “attempts a similar stunt in Washington state,” Ferguson said. To avoid that possibility, he said, people should speak out peacefully and lawfully.
“Donald Trump wants to be able to say that we cannot handle our own public safety in Washington state,” he said. “Don’t give him an excuse to try and federalize the National Guard like he did in California.”