No thrones! No crowns! No kings!: America’s rebellion against authoritarianism

On the morning of 18 October, at the US Capitol, Bill Nye, the beloved American science educator known to millions as "the Science Guy", stepped onto a stage before a restless crowd. His voice carried across the National Mall, "We are here for the same reason our ancestors gathered here in 1776. We want our government to run without a king. No thrones! No crowns! No kings!"

This soon became the rallying cry of what would be one of the largest peaceful demonstrations in modern American history. From Washington to New York, Chicago to Miami, Los Angeles to small-town Alabama, millions of Americans took to the streets, united by the conviction that democracy itself was under threat from President Donald Trump's second administration.

Organisers estimated that more than seven million people joined over 2,700 "No Kings" events across all fifty states, surpassing even the record turnout from the first wave of protests in June. In New York City alone, police reported over 100,000 demonstrators spread across the five boroughs. Similar scenes unfolded in Boston, Seattle, Dallas, and Atlanta.

Even conservative states like Montana and Florida saw surprising turnouts as citizens gathered in parks and city squares, waving placards reading "Democracy, Not Dynasty" and "No Kings in America."

The movement adopted yellow as its unifying colour. "We chose yellow because it's unmistakably bright, a reminder that America belongs to its people, not to kings," read a flyer circulated by Indivisible, the grassroots organisation co-founded by Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg.

The protests were not confined to the United States. Solidarity rallies appeared in London, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, and Toronto, with crowds outside US embassies chanting in unison: "No Kings, No Dictators, No Tyrants."

We are here for the same reason our ancestors gathered here in 1776. We want our government to run without a king. No thrones! No crowns! No kings!

Bill Nye, American television presenter

The reason for the movement is anger over a series of policies that critics said violated democratic norms. The Trump administration's deployment of federal forces in cities, the deportation of immigrants without due process, cuts to healthcare and environmental programmes, and open defiance of court rulings all fuelled the outrage. BBC reported that many demonstrators viewed these actions as evidence of an "authoritarian turn" in American governance.

However, Americans are deeply divided on Donald Trump and the protests. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 40% approved of his performance as president, while 58% disapproved.

In Los Angeles, retired teacher Marie Delgado held a placard reading "My voice is my vote." Speaking to Al Jazeera, she said, "They want to silence dissent. We're out here because this isn't just politics anymore — it's about protecting democracy itself."

For many organisers, the "No Kings" movement had grown beyond party lines. "If you're in a red state, in a rural area, or in a blue city and disagree with what this regime is doing, you're not alone," said Ezra Levin in an interview with CNN. "You're part of a big, joyful, peaceful movement that says, this country doesn't have kings."

Leah Greenberg reinforced the message in a statement to DW News, "Today, millions of Americans stood together to reject authoritarianism and remind the world that our democracy belongs to the people, not to one man's ambition."

Not everyone saw it that way. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the rallies as "hate-America events," accusing participants of "violent rhetoric" and "Antifa pro-Hamas sympathies." "The irony is clear," Johnson said. "If Trump were a king, they wouldn't be free to protest at all. Calling this democracy in danger is absurd."

President Trump, returning from a campaign event, also mocked the demonstrations aboard Air Force One. "I am not a king, I am not a king at all," he told reporters. "It's a joke. Those people are not representative of this country. It looks like Soros and other radical left lunatics paid for those signs. The crowds were small and fake."

However, Time magazine contradicted that claim, reporting that between seven and eight million people had participated in protests worldwide, making "No Kings" the largest coordinated mass demonstration since the Women's March of 2017.

At the Washington rally, Senator Bernie Sanders delivered one of the day's most powerful speeches. "Mike Johnson says we hate America," he began, pausing as the crowd booed. "Boy, does he have it wrong. Millions are out today because they love America. Because they refuse to let one man act like a monarch." His words drew a thunderous applause as hundreds waved American flags and banners reading, "Democracy is not a brand — it's a promise."

As historians have long noted, the idea of monarchy carries a legacy of interconnected power. Centuries ago, Europe's royal families were deeply entwined, through blood as much as diplomacy.

Britain's Queen Victoria was known as the "grandmother of Europe," her descendants occupying thrones in Germany, Russia, Norway, and Spain. During the First World War, King George V of Britain, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were first cousins.

Despite the devastating conflict that divided their nations, their familial ties symbolised how monarchies once relied on shared bloodlines to preserve their authority and legitimacy.

It's a joke. Those people are not representative of this country. It looks like Soros and other radical left lunatics paid for those signs. The crowds were small and fake.

Donald Trump, US President

In contrast, the "No Kings" movement in America represents a collective rejection of such concentrated power. The protesters' message was clear: leadership should be earned, not inherited; accountable, not absolute. Bill Nye captured that sentiment when he warned, "This president and his associates cannot tolerate dissent. To them, our free speech is frightening."

By nightfall, as the yellow banners fluttered in the wind, Nye's refrain, "No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings," circulated across social media, turning into a digital anthem for millions.

Political historian Dana Caldwell told The Independent, "Every time people take to the streets like this, it signals that the system's guardrails are being tested. Whether it's over war, rights, or leadership — Americans still believe the public square belongs to them."

The "No Kings" movement may have started as a reaction to one administration, but it has since evolved into a broader call for democratic renewal. As Ezra Levin later reflected, "Courage is contagious. Americans across the country are standing up now for a new era of accountability and reform. This is not the end — it's the beginning of something bigger."

For one October weekend, the chants of millions echoed across America and beyond — reminding the world that while monarchies may have fallen and royal bloodlines faded, the struggle to keep power in the people's hands endures.