Fact Check: "Tens of thousands of people participated in protests against President Donald Trump in hundreds of American cities on the day of his birthday, June 14, 2023."
What We Know
On June 14, 2023, President Donald Trump celebrated his 79th birthday, coinciding with a large military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Simultaneously, a nationwide protest event titled "No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance" was organized, with claims of participation from "more than 1,800 cities" across the country (source-1). The protests were aimed at opposing Trump's policies, which the organizers described as anti-democratic. The "No Kings" movement was part of a broader series of protests against Trump, with previous events held on Presidents Day and in April (source-1).
Reports indicated that the protests were expected to draw significant crowds, with some estimates suggesting that millions might participate across various cities (source-7). However, the specific number of participants in each city and the total nationwide remains unclear.
Analysis
The claim that "tens of thousands of people participated in protests against President Donald Trump in hundreds of American cities" is supported by the organization of the "No Kings" protests, which indeed planned events in over 1,800 cities (source-1). However, the actual turnout numbers are not definitively reported. While some sources suggest that there were "hundreds of thousands" participating in protests in major cities like Philadelphia and Atlanta (source-2), others provide less concrete estimates.
The sources reporting on the protests vary in reliability. For instance, the "No Kings" organization itself claims a large turnout, which may be subject to exaggeration for mobilization purposes (source-7). Conversely, mainstream media outlets like NPR and the Washington Post provide more measured accounts, focusing on the planned nature of the protests without definitive crowd counts (source-1, source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that "tens of thousands of people participated in protests against President Donald Trump in hundreds of American cities on the day of his birthday, June 14, 2023," is Partially True. While the organization of protests in over 1,800 cities is accurate, the specific turnout numbers remain unverified. The estimates of participation vary widely, and while there were indeed significant protests, the exact scale is not definitively established in the available sources.
Sources
- By the numbers: This weekend's big military parade in D.C.
- At military parade, Trump praises Army's legacy and ...
- Map and list of cities hosting anti-Trump 50501 protests on June 14 - MSN
- Map and List of Cities Hosting Anti-Trump 50501 Protests ...
- Map and list of cities hosting "No Kings" protests against Trump on June 14
- Trump military parade marks Army's 250th anniversary ...
- Projected Millions Across 1,500+ Cities to Join the Largest Protest to ...
- June 14 'No Kings' Trump protests set in Southeast Mass. ...