‘No Kings’ protests begin in New York, DC and Atlanta as fears of unrest loom

Millions of people are expected to gather Saturday in thousands of locations across the United States for a national “No Kings” protest challenging President Donald Trump and his Republican priorities.

Saturday’s protests across the country mark the second “No Kings” demonstration since Trump took office. Some Democratic members and congressional candidates are expected to attend.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., did not provide a clear answer when asked whether he would attend any of the rallies Saturday, telling reporters he had not “finalized” his schedule. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as well as House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., both told reporters they would be in attendance Saturday.

Republicans have argued that this second mass “No Kings” protest planned for Saturday is just an effort to distract from the ongoing battle over the government shutdown and appease their base. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told FOX Business he hoped Democratic leaders in attendance would be more willing to accept the GOP plan once the protests end — but he didn’t seem too optimistic.

ANTI-ISRAEL RADICALS FROM “GLOBAL INTIFADA” MOVEMENT JOIN “NO KINGS” PROTESTS

Protesters rally against President Donald Trump outside the Michigan State Capitol in June. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

“It’s going to be a wild-left set of policy priorities, and it’s going to be visible across the country. After that, I hope there are a few Democrats here who will come to their senses and go back to governing the country,” Johnson said. “Right now, I don’t think – it’s my guess and all of us’s that they wouldn’t make that concession until after the rally is over because they don’t want to face the angry crowd. I mean, it’s sad, but that’s where we are.”

“I guess if they don’t want a left-leaning primary, they’ll probably find a way to sneak (attending a rally) into their schedule,” Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital earlier this week. “The real question that will arise is this: will they have the courage after Saturday to come back and open up the government?”

By around 10:30 a.m. EST, crowds had already begun to gather in New York’s Times Square, the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. By midday, large crowds were seen in places like Carrollton, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina, Arlington, Virginia and at the U.S. Embassy in London.

SCALED LEADER: DEMOCRATS SUPPORT ‘NO KINGS’ PROTESTS, BUT LET SHUTDOWN DEVASTA FAMILIES

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other House Republican leaders are using Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies as a political cudgel amid the government shutdown. (David McNew/Getty Images; Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP Photo)

In the state of Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has mobilized the National Guard to help deal with any potential chaos.

“I want to be clear that Virginians have a fundamental right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, but that right does not include destruction of property, looting, vandalism, disruption of traffic or violence of any kind — for which there will be zero tolerance,” Youngkin said, according to The Virginia Pilot.

Virginia-specific protests are expected to take place in Hampton Roads, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg, according to official No Kings. website.

“No Kings” protests against the Trump administration are scheduled to take place in cities across the country on October 18, 2025. (Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images)

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In addition to protests taking place in the continental United States, demonstrations are also expected in Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska. Protests are also planned outside the United States, including in several European countries, and at least one rally is planned in Mexico.

Elizabeth Elkind and Chase Williams of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.