No Kings protests will rally against Trump Saturday: What to know
Washington D.C. prepares for military parade
A large-scale military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary is set for June 14 in Washington, D.C. The event is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million and draw up to 200,000 spectators.
"No Kings" protests against President Donald Trump’s policies are scheduled in nearly 2,000 cities across the U.S. Saturday as a military parade rolls in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary – which is also Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.
The protests, organized by the 50501 national movement, are meant to counter what organizers call a day for Trump to feed his own ego as he turns 79 years old.
Here’s what to know about the "No Kings" protests and the Army’s DC parade:
RELATED: Army's 250th Birthday: Everything to know about Trump's military parade
No Kings protests
The backstory:
The "No Kings" theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of everyday Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
FILE - Thousands of demonstrators rally in Chicago, Illinois, as hundreds of "50501" protests and community events against the Trump administration were held across the United States on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Imag
The No Kings Day of Defiance has been organized to reject authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics and the militarization of the country's democracy, according to a press release from No Kings.
The No Kings Day of Defiance is expected to be the largest single-day mobilization since Trump returned to office, organizers said. Organizers said they are preparing for millions of people to take to the streets across all 50 states and commonwealths.
Earlier protests organized by 50501 have rallied against Trump and his former billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who led Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to cut federal spending.
What they're saying:
Protesters are calling for Trump to be "dethroned" as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president.
"They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services," the group says on its website. "They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies."
"The flag doesn’t belong to President Trump. It belongs to us," the No Kings website says. "On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t — to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings."
Army parade in Washington
Big picture view:
The nationwide demonstrations will coincide with the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration — which Trump has ratcheted up to include an expensive, lavish military parade. The event will feature hundreds of military vehicles and aircraft and thousands of soldiers.
The Army birthday celebration had already been planned. But earlier this spring, Trump announced his intention to ratchet up the event – which falls on Trump’s birthday – to include 60-ton M1 Abrams battle tanks and Paladin self-propelled howitzers rolling through the city streets. He has long sought a similar display of patriotic force.
The other side:
Trump said Tuesday that any protesters in DC would be "met with heavy force," but the White House later clarified that Trump supports "peaceful protests."
No Kings protest locations
Local perspective:
No protests are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., where the military parade will be held. The 50501 group says it will "make action everywhere else the story of America that day."
No Kings plans instead to hold a major flagship march and rally in Philadelphia to draw a clear contrast between its people-powered movement and what they describe as the "costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade" in Washington, according to the No Kings website.
People of all ages are expected to come together in nearly 2,000 protest locations for speeches, marching, carrying signs and waving American flags. The movement is committed to keeping their protests nonviolent.
You can learn more and see a map of scheduled protests here.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press and previous LiveNow from FOX reporting.