Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across all 50 US states on Saturday, rallying under the banner of “No Kings” to express their opposition to President Donald Trump’s hardline policies. Organizers claimed that seven million people participated in demonstrations ranging from major cities like New York and Los Angeles to small towns in the heartland, including areas near Trump’s Florida residence.

In Washington, D.C., thousands gathered near the US Capitol—closed for a third consecutive week due to a government shutdown—chanting, “This is what democracy looks like!” Demonstrators carried colorful signs demanding protection of democratic values and called for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, a focal point of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

Many protesters criticized what they described as the president’s authoritarian tactics, including attacks on the media, political opponents, and undocumented immigrants. “I never thought I would live to see the death of my country as a democracy,” said 69-year-old retiree Colleen Hoffman, marching in New York. “The cruelty of this regime, the authoritarianism—I just can’t stay home and do nothing.”

Creative and symbolic protests included a giant balloon of Trump depicted in a diaper in Los Angeles, while in Houston, signs called to “Fight Ignorance, not migrants,” highlighting the city’s large immigrant population. Some protesters even waved flags inspired by the pirate-themed anime “One Piece,” whose skull logo has become a global symbol in anti-government protests.

Though largely peaceful, clashes occurred in downtown Los Angeles late Saturday, where police used tear gas and nonlethal rounds to disperse a group of about a hundred agitators who employed lasers and bright flashing lights against officers. The Los Angeles Police Department said a dispersal order was issued and did not report any arrests.

Trump responded to the protests with a series of provocative AI-generated videos posted on his Truth Social platform, showing himself as a king piloting a fighter jet that drops what appeared to be feces on anti-Trump protesters. His allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the rallies as “Hate America” protests, accusing participants of aligning with Marxists, socialists, anarchists, and extremist left-wing groups—a characterization protesters and observers mocked.

“Look around! If this is hate, someone needs to go back to grade school,” said Paolo, a 63-year-old protester in Washington, amid chants and songs. Others acknowledged the deep divisions within American politics. “Right-wingers say they hate us. I don’t care,” said Tony, a 34-year-old software engineer.

Civil rights advocates emphasized the protesters’ core message. Deirdre Schifeling of the American Civil Liberties Union said, “We are a country of equals, governed by laws that apply to everyone, and we will not be silenced.” Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the Indivisible Project, condemned the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, viewing it as an intimidation tactic against peaceful demonstrators.

While official attendance numbers varied, with New York authorities estimating over 100,000 at one protest and Washington’s crowds numbered between 8,000 and 10,000, the widespread turnout underscored growing public frustration with the current administration and the country’s political polarization.