“No Kings” protests sweep nation as Trump administration faces mass opposition

10/23/2025 / By Kevin Hughes

Millions participated in the second wave of “No Kings” demonstrations, with over 2,700 events and an estimated seven million attendees, marking one of the largest coordinated civil actions in U.S. history.
Investigative researchers claim the movement is heavily funded by left-wing billionaires (Soros, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller) funneling hundreds of millions through opaque dark-money networks, despite protesters insisting their motivations are grassroots and personal.
Protesters included veterans, students and civil rights icons, with emotional appeals against Trump’s policies, while symbolic imagery (inflatable frogs, Revolutionary War attire, Epstein-linked signs) dominated rallies.
GOP leaders labeled the protests as “hate America” rallies, with Trump’s campaign mocking demonstrators via AI-generated imagery. Some Republican governors activated National Guard units preemptively, though protests remained largely peaceful.
The movement signals a deepening ideological rift ahead of the 2026 midterms, with tensions between perceived authoritarianism and democratic resistance fueling ongoing national unrest.

Millions of Americans took to the streets nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 18, in the second wave of “No Kings” protests, denouncing what organizers describe as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and policies.

The demonstrations, spanning over 2,700 events from coast to coast, marked one of the largest coordinated civil actions in modern U.S. history, with organizers estimating a turnout exceeding seven million.

While protesters framed the rallies as organic expressions of democratic resistance, investigative researchers Peter Schweizer and Seamus Bruner of the Government Accountability Institute allege that the movement is bankrolled by left-wing billionaires funneling hundreds of millions through dark-money networks.

As explained by BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, dark-money networks refer to complex systems of financial transactions designed to obscure the source of funds, often used to influence political processes, elections or public policy while concealing the identities of the donors. These networks are characterized by their opacity, lack of transparency and the use of intermediaries to shield the ultimate beneficiaries.

Bruner revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that $294 million had been traced to “No Kings” partners, including major donors like the Soros network ($72.1M), Ford Foundation ($51.7M), and Rockefeller family ($28.6M).

“OBVIOUSLY ‘No Kings 2.0’ isn’t grassroots. This level of coordination requires serious funds,” Bruner wrote. “The protesters should just own it! Instead, they hold up anti-billionaire signs funded by… billionaires. Are they being dishonest or ignorant?”

Bruner and Schweizer had written a story in mid-June that revealed more than $100 million was broken up to No Kings and partners by way of the Arabella dark money network. Despite these claims, demonstrators—many first-time activists—insisted their motivations were deeply personal.

Voices from the protests

From veterans to students, protesters shared impassioned reasons for joining:

Brian Wofford, an Iraq War veteran who lost a leg in combat, stood firm in Oklahoma City wearing his service coat. “I was willing to die fighting for their rights overseas,” he told USA Today. “There’s no way I’m bending the only knee I have left for a king here in America.”
Annalise Smith, a 19-year-old NYU student, attended her first protest in New York City. “It’s nice to see that humanity in society is still alive and well,” she said.
Dolores Huerta, the 95-year-old civil rights icon, rallied in Watsonville, California, condemning Trump’s immigration policies as ethnic cleansing. “We are going to resist and keep protesting until it stops,” she declared.

Inflatable frog costumes—a viral trend since federal agents sprayed chemical irritants into one in Portland—became a recurring sight. Protesters also donned Revolutionary War-era attire and held signs referencing Trump’s alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

In Arizona, Denise Heinrich, 73, wore a sign accusing Trump of Epstein connections while her husband dressed as Uncle Sam. “Our democracy could very easily disappear,” said Rich Heinrich, 76.

Republican leaders dismissed the protests as “hate America” rallies. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) claimed demonstrators represented “the Marxists, the socialists, the Antifa advocates, the anarchists and the pro-Hamas wing of the far-left Democrat party.”

The Trump campaign trolled protesters online, sharing AI-generated images of Trump wearing a crown. The White House account reposted a cartoon depicting Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries as Disney princesses with the caption: “No Kings!!”

Safety concerns and military mobilization

Despite fears of unrest, protests remained largely peaceful. Police in New York and Washington reported no arrests. Still, Republican governors Glenn Youngkin (VA) and Greg Abbott (TX) activated National Guard units as a precaution.

Organizers emphasized rigorous de-escalation training. “This protest is no threat to national security,” said Robert Weissman of Public Citizen. “Protest is what made our country stronger for 250 years.”

With tensions escalating ahead of the 2026 midterms, the “No Kings” movement signals a deepening ideological rift. For now, the streets have quieted—but the battle over America’s future rages on.

Watch the video below about the No Kings Day protest that happened last June.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include: