Massive 'No Kings' protests opposing former US President Donald Trump and far-right ideologies have erupted across the United States and in London, marking a significant wave of political activism. Demonstrators gathered in major cities to voice opposition to Trump's policies, including the Iran war, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, and rising economic prices, with banners and effigies targeting Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other government officials.
US Protests Turn Tense in Multiple Cities
Organizers of the 'No Kings' movement aimed to attract millions of participants in what they described as a peaceful outcry against far-right influences. While most demonstrations remained non-violent, tensions flared in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump supporters engaged in verbal altercations with protesters. According to CNN reports, the confrontation involved competing flags, signs, swearing, and shouting until police intervened to de-escalate the situation.
Los Angeles Sees Police Clashes and Tear Gas
In the metropolitan Los Angeles region, 40 protests were planned, including gatherings at police detention centers. The LA Times reported clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with officers launching tear gas near the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal prison facility. These incidents highlighted the volatile nature of the protests in some areas, despite organizers' emphasis on peaceful assembly.
London Hosts Historic Anti-Far-Right Demonstration
In London, an estimated half a million people gathered for what organizers called 'the biggest demonstration ever against the far right.' Protesters carried placards with messages such as 'No to racism, no to Trump' and 'Refugees welcome,' marching through the capital to Whitehall under a heavy police presence with officers lining the streets.
Outnumbering Previous Far-Right Rally
Organizers claimed the demonstration successfully outnumbered the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom rally in September 2025, which attracted between 110,000 and 150,000 participants. That earlier event, organized by right-wing activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson), saw violent disorder incidents that injured police officers and was condemned by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for making people feel 'more scared than they were before.'
Speakers and Performers Rally the Crowds
Rally co-organizer Kevin Courtney, chairman of the coalition, addressed the crowds on Whitehall, stating, 'Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on.' Former Labour MP Diane Abbott, now an independent in Parliament, told cheering attendees, 'The turnout today is the largest anti-racist march that I have seen in my lifetime, and you should all be proud of yourselves for coming out in such numbers today.'
Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of the Together Alliance and co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, noted an 'unprecedented growth' in support for far-right organizations in the UK but believed the size of Saturday's attendance had 'intimidated the far right' away from a counter-protest. She added, 'We're confident that the size of our mobilisation here today has actually intimidated the far-right, and I think they feel that they are not confident enough to stand against us because they know that we're going to be out in big numbers.'
Musical Performance and Migration Commentary
Singer Billy Bragg, who criticized Trump as 'a constant reminder of the cruel realities of the politics of division,' performed protest songs onstage at Whitehall. He commented on migration concerns, stating, 'Re migration, the forced deportation of our fellow citizens, we've seen what that looks like in the United States of America. And if it does come to that in this country then we will have to be as courageous as the people of Minneapolis who stood in the streets to deny (deportations).'
The protests underscore a global response to far-right politics, with significant turnout in both the US and UK highlighting public dissent against policies perceived as divisive and racist. Organizers emphasized the peaceful intent of the demonstrations, despite isolated clashes and police interventions in some locations.
