Millions Protest Across US in Third Wave of ‘No Kings’ Rallies Against Trump Policies
Organizers report over 3,100 events nationwide as demonstrators decry Iran war, immigration enforcement and cost of living; White House dismisses protests as ‘Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions’
NEW YORK — March 29, 2026 — Millions of Americans took to the streets on Saturday, March 28, in the third wave of “No Kings” protests across the United States, rallying against President Donald Trump’s policies on Iran, immigration and what demonstrators described as the administration’s consolidation of executive power .
More than 3,100 demonstrations were planned nationwide, with major rallies held in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and a flagship event at the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, according to organizers and media reports . U.S. media projected the protests involved approximately 900,000 people, making it the largest single-day protest event on record . The previous two No Kings rallies drew more than 5 million people in June 2025 and 7 million in October 2025 .
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The protests coincided with the Trump administration’s ongoing military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28, and escalating tensions over immigration enforcement following the January deaths of two U.S. citizens involving ICE agents in Minneapolis .
‘We Don’t Do Kings in America’
In Saint Paul, nearly 100,000 people braved chilly weather for the flagship rally at the Minnesota State Capitol, according to organizers. The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed at least 50,000 participants . U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, delivered the keynote address, sharply criticizing U.S. policies.
“Americans were lied to about the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, and we are being lied to today about the war in Iran,” Sanders told the crowd. “This war must end immediately” .
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also addressed the demonstrators, referencing the January ICE shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. “We demand justice for Renee Good and Alex Pretti,” Walz said. “We will never forget what they did here” .
Rock musician Bruce Springsteen performed his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” at the rally and hailed Minnesotans’ resistance to the administration’s immigration policies. “Their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten,” Springsteen said. “Thanks, Minnesota, No Kings! No War!” .
Protesters held up a massive sign on the Capitol steps reading, “We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis” .
Nationwide Demonstrations
In Washington, D.C., crowds gathered outside the Lincoln Memorial and marched into the National Mall, holding signs reading “Regime change begins at home” and “Defend Our Constitution.” Demonstrators rang bells, played drums and chanted “No kings” .
In New York City, protests took place across all five boroughs. In Manhattan, tens of thousands of protesters marched along Seventh Avenue on Saturday afternoon, stretching more than 10 blocks, chanting slogans and carrying signs reading “No ICE,” “NO Kings,” and “No Wars” .
Actor Robert De Niro, one of the organizers, said that no U.S. president before Trump had posed “such an existential threat to our freedoms and security” .
In Los Angeles, two people were arrested for assaulting federal law enforcement, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency said in a statement on X that two officers had been hit with cement blocks and were receiving medical care after a group of what it described as “1,000 rioters” surrounded the Roybal Federal Building and began throwing items at DHS agents . The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed “multiple arrests” had been made after protesters did not obey dispersal orders near a federal prison .
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In Las Vegas, approximately 1,000 people converged on downtown for a “No Kings” rally, with no arrests reported, according to the Metropolitan Police Department . In Stamford, Connecticut, thousands took part in a peaceful march, with Governor Ned Lamont addressing the crowd. “There are no kings in America,” Lamont shouted to thousands of demonstrators .
Smaller cities also saw significant turnout. In Manitowoc, Wisconsin, local organizers planned a rally and march at Washington Park, joining the national day of action . In San Luis Obispo County, California, four separate protests were organized across San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Atascadero and Cambria .
Organizing Coalition and Demands
The protests were organized by a broad coalition of progressive groups, including Indivisible, MoveOn, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, 50501, the Human Rights Campaign, and Public Citizen, among others .
Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, described the movement’s origins in Minnesota. “Minnesota represented the occupation of an American city, the unleashing of a reign of terror and racial profiling, that was pushed back by organized, nonviolent, disciplined people power,” she said on Democracy Now! .
Organizers emphasized the “nonviolent” nature of the events, banning all weapons and training leaders in de-escalation techniques. The No Kings coalition had warned that some counter-protesters might attempt to disrupt the rallies .
Demonstrators voiced a range of grievances, including the war in Iran, rising gas and grocery prices, costly tariffs, and long airport security lines caused by government gridlock . In Sacramento, protesters gathered at the state Capitol against a backdrop of surging fuel costs, with gas prices in Los Angeles County averaging close to $6 per gallon, an increase of more than $1.26 in a single month .
White House Response
The White House dismissed the protests, with a spokesperson calling them “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” and suggesting that the only people who care about them “are the reporters who are paid to cover them” .
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, described the protests as “partisan theatrics” in a statement .
Trump has previously dismissed accusations that he is behaving like a dictator. “They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” he said in an October interview with Fox News . His supporters have echoed this sentiment. Chuck Muth, president of the Citizen Outreach Foundation in Las Vegas, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal: “If Donald Trump were a king, he would not have to deal with Congress” .
Counter-Protests and Incidents
Counter-protesters appeared at some rallies. In West Palm Beach, Florida, about 50 pro-Trump demonstrators wearing “Proud Boys” hats and using megaphones confronted No Kings participants, according to CNN reports cited by Anadolu Ajansı .
In Dallas, minor scuffles erupted when counter-protesters blocked streets and disrupted the No Kings march, resulting in several arrests, according to Reuters .
International Solidarity
American expatriates also gathered abroad, with crowds forming in Paris, London and Lisbon, holding signs calling the president a “fascist” and a “war criminal,” as well as calling for his impeachment and removal from office, according to BBC reports cited by Lebanon’s National News Agency .
Political Context
The protests come amid record-low approval ratings for Trump. Polling published by Emerson College on March 20 showed that 42 percent of likely voters approve of the job Trump is doing, while 51 percent disapprove. His approval rating has dropped seven points since January 2025, while his disapproval rating has risen 10 points over the same period .
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has expanded the scope of presidential power, using executive orders to dismantle parts of the federal government and deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities despite objections by state governors . Critics argue that some of these moves are unconstitutional and pose a threat to American democracy.
The third No Kings protest follows significant turnouts in June and October of last year. The movement has shown consistent growth, with the number of registered events rising from approximately 2,600 in October to more than 3,100 on Saturday . Organizers had hoped for up to 9 million participants nationwide, though final turnout figures were not immediately available .
SOURCES / INPUTS
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