‘No Kings’ Protests Nationwide With Minnesota Leading/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Nationwide “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump are expected to draw millions. Minnesota is hosting the flagship rally following controversial immigration enforcement incidents. Events are planned across all 50 states and internationally.
No Kings Protests Quick Looks
- “No Kings” protests planned nationwide
- More than 3,100 rallies scheduled
- Organizers expect over 9 million participants
- Minnesota Capitol hosts flagship rally
- Bruce Springsteen to headline Minnesota event
- Jane Fonda, Bernie Sanders also participating
- Protests planned in multiple countries
- White House dismisses demonstrations
- Rural and conservative areas seeing participation
- Virtual events available for remote attendees
Deep Look: Minnesota Serves as Flagship for Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests Against Trump
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Organizers of nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations say Saturday’s protests against President Donald Trump and his administration could become one of the largest coordinated protest movements in U.S. history, with Minnesota serving as the centerpiece.
More than 3,100 demonstrations have been registered across all 50 states, with organizers projecting over 9 million participants nationwide. The flagship event is scheduled at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, a location chosen after the state became a focal point of opposition following the fatal shootings of two individuals monitoring federal immigration enforcement actions.
Minnesota organizers estimate that as many as 100,000 people could attend the St. Paul rally. Last June’s demonstration at the same location drew approximately 80,000 participants.
High-Profile Speakers and Performers
The Minnesota rally is expected to feature a high-profile lineup of entertainers, activists, and political figures. Bruce Springsteen will headline the event, performing “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song he wrote in response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and in tribute to protest movements in the state.
Springsteen’s “Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour,” which incorporates the “No Kings” theme, is also scheduled to launch in Minneapolis shortly after the rally.
Other participants at the Minnesota flagship event include singer Joan Baez, actor Jane Fonda, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, along with labor leaders, activists, and elected officials.
Organizers say the gathering is meant to symbolize broader resistance to policies enacted by the Trump administration.
Nationwide and International Protests
Beyond Minnesota, rallies are scheduled in thousands of communities nationwide, ranging from major metropolitan areas to smaller rural towns.
Organizers say participation is growing in conservative-leaning states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota, and Louisiana. Registration has also surged in suburban areas of battleground states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona.
Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, said the protests reflect broadening opposition.
“This administration’s actions are angering not just Democratic voters or folks in big blue city centers — they are crossing a line for people in red and rural areas,” Greenberg said.
Demonstrations are also planned in more than a dozen countries, including locations across Europe, Latin America, and Australia.
In Paris, several hundred demonstrators gathered near the Bastille Saturday morning. Participants included American expatriates, French labor unions, and human rights groups.
Paris organizer Ada Shen criticized Trump’s policies, saying the protests reflect concerns about executive power and military conflicts.
“It is clear he doesn’t really have a plan,” Shen said. “It is very clear that he is a strong man who is abusing authority.”
White House Pushback
The White House dismissed the demonstrations, characterizing them as politically motivated and lacking broad public support.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson described the protests as backed by “leftist funding networks” and downplayed their significance.
“The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” Jackson said.
Growing Protest Movement
Organizers say the demonstrations build on earlier “No Kings” protests that drew an estimated 5 million participants in June and more than 7 million in October.
Katie Bethell, executive director of MoveOn, another organizing group, described the protests as a nationwide mobilization.
“Millions of us are rising up from all walks of life, from rural communities to big cities,” Bethell said. “This country does not belong to kings, dictators, tyrants. It belongs to us.”
Virtual Participation Options
For individuals unable to attend in person, advocacy group Stand Up For Science is hosting a virtual event designed to broaden accessibility.
Organizers say the combination of in-person and online participation could further expand the reach of the demonstrations.
With large crowds expected nationwide and international participation growing, Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies could mark one of the most expansive protest movements in recent U.S. political history.
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