This weekend's 'No Kings' demonstrations drew an estimated crowd of millions across the United States to protest President Donald Trump's policies and his willingness to push the boundaries of presidential authority.
It was a moment for likeminded Democrats, liberals, and some anti-Trump Republicans to rally together at a time when the American left has little formal power in national politics. But where do they go from here?
The turnout at Saturday's events—in major U.S. cities like Chicago, New York, Washington, and Los Angeles, as well as hundreds of smaller towns—was higher than expected and surpassed the first 'No Kings' rally in June.
Congressional Republicans had warned that the demonstrations would be 'anti-American', and some conservative governors had put their law enforcement and National Guard on alert in case of violence. Yet, the rallies turned out to be peaceful—a carnival, not carnage. In New York City, there were no protest-related arrests, and the gathering in Washington D.C. featured families and young children.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut remarked at the Washington D.C. rally, 'Today all across America in numbers that may eclipse any day of protest in our nation's history, Americans are saying loudly and proudly that we are a free people, we are not a people that can be ruled, our government is not for sale.'
In response, the White House downplayed the protests, with deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson stating, 'Who cares?' Trump himself shared AI-generated videos mocking the demonstrators on social media.
While Republicans may be dismissing the significance of the marches, the scale of turnout—along with Trump's negative poll ratings—points to a potential opportunity for the Democrats to recover from last year's electoral setbacks.
However, the party still faces significant hurdles. Polls show only a third of Americans view the party favorably, the lowest in decades, and factions within the Democrats are divided over how to counter Trump without control of Congress.
The protests encompassed a range of issues, including immigration enforcement, tariff policies, government budget cuts, foreign policy, and usage of presidential authority—all bringing frustration towards both Trump and Democratic leaders.
As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, Democrats have taken a combative stance but risk further alienating voters who are already feeling the impacts of the impasse.
The November elections will serve as an early test of whether the anti-Trump sentiment translates into electoral victories for Democrats, especially as they prepare for next year’s midterms.
With cracks showing in the party's unity, the path forward must balance immediate action against Trump with the need for internal cohesion in order to maximize electoral potential.
