Thousands of demonstrators gathered across U.S. cities on October 18, 2025, for the second round of No Kings protests against President Trump's policies. The events, largely peaceful, featured creative elements like inflatable costumes and drew criticism from Republican leaders. The rallies occurred amid a prolonged government shutdown now on day 19.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, crowds filled streets in major cities including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland for the No Kings protests, the second such nationwide series since June. Organizers and participants rallied against what they described as the Trump administration's authoritarian tendencies, with demonstrations emphasizing democracy and peaceful resistance. In New York City, police estimated over 100,000 participants across boroughs, with no protest-related arrests reported. Similar large gatherings occurred in D.C.'s National Mall and other locations, totaling roughly 2,500 events across the U.S., and even extending to London.
Protests blended seriousness with whimsy, particularly in D.C., where participants donned inflatable costumes inspired by a Portland protester's frog suit that confronted ICE agents. Banners read 'No Kings, Only Frogs' and 'I Stand with Frog Dude,' alongside references to antifa as 'Aunt Tifa.' One unicorn-clad protester, Sedef Buyukatiman, said, 'What they want is their Reichstag Fire... I just don’t want to give them that opportunity,' aiming to undermine narratives portraying opponents as threats. An anonymous frog wearer added, 'We’re all too damn sad... we’ve got to be, like, happy warriors,' highlighting efforts to attract broader participation through fun. A mother-daughter unicorn duo from Frederick, Maryland, noted that 'fun and lightness' fosters community and makes protests accessible for all ages.
While mostly peaceful, isolated incidents included three detentions in Portland—one arrest for alleged assault—and 15 arrests near an ICE facility outside Chicago. In Denver, police dispersed a group attempting highway access, leading to several arrests.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the events on ABC's This Week the next day, calling them 'Hate America rallies' and a 'stunt' for Democratic political cover amid the shutdown. He argued, 'If President Trump was a king, the government would be open right now. If President Trump was a king, they would not have been able to engage in that free speech exercise.' Johnson contrasted this with the 2013 shutdown under Obama, when the National Mall was closed. Senator Bernie Sanders, speaking in D.C., countered by calling it a 'Love America rally' and thanked 'millions' of participants for affirming 'No more kings. In America, We the People will rule.' California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X, 'California will keep peacefully pushing back against the Trump Administration's authoritarian takeover.'
The protests unfolded on day 19 of the government shutdown, with no breakthrough in sight as Republicans and Democrats remained entrenched.
