No Kings protests across the US rally against Donald Trump

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Sakshi Venkatraman

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Protestors gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

Large protests against the Trump administration are taking place in cities across the US, marking the third iteration of No Kings rallies that have previously drawn crowds into the millions.

Organisers say they are protesting policies imposed by US President Donald Trump, including the war in Iran, federal immigration enforcement, and the rising cost of living.

“Trump wants to rule over us as a tyrant. But this is America, and power belongs to the people - not to wannabe kings or their billionaire cronies,” organisers said.

Trump allies have previously denounced the No Kings protests as the “hate America rally” and accused participants of being linked to the far-left Antifa movement.

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Protestors march across the bridge from Arlington, Virginia into Washington DC

Throughout the day on Saturday, demonstrations will take place in nearly every major US city, including New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles.

Rallies have already started in Washington DC and other cities, with throngs of people marching into the nation’s capital from the neighbouring Arlington, Virginia. Protestors have been lining the steps of the the Lincoln Memorial and have packed the National Mall.

Like in previous iterations of No Kings, protestors hold up effigies of Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other officials in the administration, calling for their ousting and arrest.

Protests in New York City are expected to start at 14:00 ET (18:00 GMT).

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The last No Kings rally in October drew crowds of nearly seven million people nationally.

Several US states mobilised the National Guard, but organisers have maintained that the events are peaceful.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has expanded the scope of presidential power, using executive orders to dismantle parts of the federal government and to deploy National Guard troops to US cities despite objections by state governors.

Earlier this year, federal immigration agents in Minneapolis shot and killed two US citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, sparking outrage and a divide among Trump’s Republican party.

The president has also called on the administration’s top law enforcement officials to prosecute his perceived political enemies.

The president says his actions are necessary to rebuild a country in crisis and has dismissed accusations that he is a behaving like a dictator or fascist as hysterical.

“They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” he said in an interview with Fox News in October.

But critics warn some of the moves by his administration are unconstitutional and a threat to American democracy.

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Protestors are lining the streets in Shelbyville, Kentucky

Crowds have gathered both in big cities and small towns. No Kings rallies are kicking off in Boston, Massachusetts, Nashville, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas. More big city protests are expected to kick off throughout the day.

The streets are also lined with people in cities like Shelbyville, Kentucky and Howell, Michigan, which has a population of just about 10,000.

People hold signs protesting the war in Iran and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in neighbourhoods.

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Protestors hold signs in Houston, Texas

American expats abroad are also gathering to protest. Crowds have formed in Paris, London and Lisbon, where many hold signs calling the president a “fascist” and a “war criminal”, as well as calling for his impeachment and removal from office.

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A crowd made up of American expats and some French nationals protest in Paris’ Place de la Bastille

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