Fact Check: The 'No Kings' protests on Saturday were described by organizers as an action to reject authoritarianism, with around 2,000 protests taking place across the U.S. and millions of people participating.

Fact Check: "The 'No Kings' protests on Saturday were described by organizers as an action to reject authoritarianism, with around 2,000 protests taking place across the U.S. and millions of people participating."

What We Know

The "No Kings" protests occurred on June 14, 2025, as a coordinated effort against President Trump's military parade, which coincided with his 79th birthday. Organizers described the protests as a rejection of authoritarianism, with estimates indicating that over 5 million people participated in more than 2,000 protests across the United States and internationally (NPR, New York Times). The protests were organized by a coalition of over 200 groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Indivisible, and were characterized as a "day of defiance" against what the organizers viewed as authoritarian overreach by the Trump administration (PBS, Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim that the "No Kings" protests were described by organizers as a rejection of authoritarianism is supported by multiple sources. The protests were explicitly framed as a response to the perceived authoritarian tendencies of the Trump administration, with organizers stating that the military parade was a "theatrical display of dominance" (New York Times, PBS). The reported participation figures also align across various credible outlets, with NPR stating that more than 5 million people participated in the protests, and the New York Times confirming that around 2,000 protests were planned across all 50 states (NPR, CBS News).

The reliability of these sources is generally high. NPR, the New York Times, and PBS are well-established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. They provided consistent information regarding the scale and intent of the protests, which adds credibility to the claim. Additionally, the protests were widely covered by multiple outlets, including CNN and CBS News, further corroborating the reported numbers and the organizers' motivations (CNN, CBS News).

However, it is important to note that while the estimates of participation are substantial, they are based on organizers' claims, which can sometimes be inflated for impact. Nevertheless, the widespread coverage and the nature of the protests suggest that the figures are plausible.

Conclusion

The claim that the "No Kings" protests were described by organizers as an action to reject authoritarianism, with around 2,000 protests taking place across the U.S. and millions participating, is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources supports this assertion, highlighting both the scale of the protests and their intended message against authoritarianism.

Sources

1. Anti-Trump No Kings protests flood American streets ahead ...
2. What We Know About the 'No Kings' Protests on Saturday
3. People across the 50 states gather in 'No Kings' protests ...
4. 'No Kings' protests nationwide to push back on Trump's ...
5. "No Kings" protests draw crowds in cities across U.S.
6. Abbreviation of number - N, N°, Nr, Nbr, No?
7. What to know about 'No Kings' protests against Trump's policies
8. In pictures: The nationwide 'No Kings' protests