WASHINGTON — The streets of the U.S. capital were filled with music, costumes, and defiant slogans on Saturday as tens of thousands gathered for the “No Kings” rally, a nationwide protest against what demonstrators described as the Trump administration’s overreach of power.
Marching down Pennsylvania Avenue in a bright red shirt reading “Dear Canada, we hate him too,” federal worker Eric Poole joined the sea of protesters calling for limits on presidential authority amid a prolonged government shutdown that has left hundreds of thousands without pay since October 1.
“There’s a lot of people in America who think he’s terrible too,” Poole said. “The things he’s doing all over the place, including with Canada, are just stupid — and we don’t support him.”
The demonstration — one of more than 2,600 coordinated rallies across the United States and around the world — transformed Washington into a hub of resistance, blending humor and anger in equal measure. Protesters waved signs, danced to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”, and even wore costumes depicting dinosaurs, frogs, and unicorns. A giant banner of President Donald Trump’s face hung from the Department of Labor building as a backdrop.
While the tone was festive, the message was serious. Many attendees expressed concern about Trump’s aggressive use of executive orders, his deployment of the National Guard against state leaders’ wishes, and his administration’s deep cuts to the federal workforce — spearheaded by tech mogul Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team.
“This has all felt so rapid and head-spinning,” said Carol Miller, 61, holding a poster of Trump as a baby wearing a crown. “It’s very hurtful what’s been done, especially laying off the federal workers who serve the public. That’s one of the worst things that’s happened.”
Elsewhere in the crowd, Olivia Lambertson, a 24-year-old scientist, said she attended out of solidarity. “I have the opportunity to show up,” she said, “so that’s really what I’m here to do.”
Meanwhile, Trump spent the day golfing near Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Republican leaders dismissed the demonstrations as a “Hate America rally,” branding participants as “communists” and “Marxists.”
But across the U.S. — from Boston to Chicago to New York — massive crowds echoed the same chant: “Power to the people, not the people in power.”
The movement even crossed borders. In Montreal, dozens of demonstrators joined in solidarity, waving Canadian and American flags. “We’re here to support Canadian sovereignty and all Americans fighting to preserve their democracy,” said Judith Henkewick, a dual citizen from Boston who has lived in Montreal for 50 years.
Back in Washington, the message was unmistakable. “We are watching fascism in real time,” said Christy Torres, 44. “I wish we didn’t have to do this, but I’m proud of everyone across the country who’s standing up today.”
For many, the “No Kings” protests symbolized more than anger — they were a collective demand for accountability in an era when, as one sign put it, “Democracy feels like it’s on the line.”