
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No Kings Day drew millions into the streets, but despite the theatrics, it proved to be a masterclass in political irony—an anti-monarchy protest that showcased the very freedoms it claimed were under siege. ; As impressive as it was, it was still a nothingburger in terms of impact.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you were anywhere near a major city on October 18, 2025, you might have thought the Fourth of July came early (or late?).  ;Crowds alternately chanted “No Kings in America” and “USA, USA, USA”. ; Streets were flooded with flags, signs, costumes, and enough righteous indignation to power a small wind farm.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No Kings Day was a nationwide protest against what organizers saw as the “monarchic tendencies” of President Trump. According to organizers, more than seven million people participated in 2,700 rallies across the country.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Now, before we crown this event as the Second Coming of the Boston Tea Party (when there was a real king to depose), let us take a moment to appreciate the irony. Here were millions of Americans exercising their constitutional right to protest, shaking fists at Trump and waving signs that read “End the Tyranny” and “No Kings in America,” all while proving—by their very actions —that democracy, the Constitution and the First Amendment are alive and well. No jackbooted Gestapo. No royal edicts demanding silence and dispersal.  ;No massive arrests. ; Just a lot of folks with grievances, granola bars, and good walking shoes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It was, in a way, a beautiful contradiction. The protest’s success was its own rebuttal. If Trump were truly the tyrannical king they claim, would not these rallies have been squashed like a bug under a golden slipper? Instead, they were livestreamed, tweeted, and celebrated by the very media outlets that claim democracy is on life support.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, the left does love a good march. They have it down to a science—complete with branded hashtags, coordinated outfits, and enough organizational muscle to rival a Taylor Swift tour.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No Kings Day was backed and funded by a veritable alphabet soup of progressive groups, Including: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communication Workers ; of ; America, Planned Parenthood, Democratic Socialists ; of America, Communist Party USA, MoveOn, National Nurses United, Public Citizen, League of Conservation Voters, Reproductive Freedom for All, Black Lives Matter, Antifa, Common Defense, Indivisible, etc., etc., etc.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The numbers of revelers were padded by Democrat administrations in cities and states that “encouraged” public workers to participate. ; It also had the promotional support of the left-leaning media. ; Millions of dollars in funding was provided by the SEIU, AFT, MoveOn, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and many other major and grassroots donors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I provided a list of many &#8212; but not all – of the sponsors and funders to better understand that the large crowds were not entirely organic. ; This was a very well planned, organized and funded event.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But here is the kicker. ; Did it change anything?  ;Apparently not.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the impressive turnout and the theatrical flair, the protest did not seem move the political needle. The government shutdown trudged on. Trump’s policies remained firmly in place. No new legislation emerged from the fog of slogans and speeches. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine continued unabated. It was, as Shakespeare might say, “a tale told by millions, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Even branding experts were scratching their heads. Donny Deutsch, MSNBC’s resident marketing guru, called the “No Kings” theme a misfire. “Talk about healthcare,” he advised. “Talk about food prices. Talk about something people actually care about.” Other Democrat leaders expressed similar sentiments. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They may have a point since all the imagery was centered on the “no kings” theme with ; very little about the array of specific issues that motivated different people, ; The organizers were too enamored with their metaphorical monarchy – at the expense of the real issues.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No Kings Day was less about policy and more about performance. It was a feel-good moment for the progressive base—a chance to vent, unite, and cosplay as anti-royalist revolutionaries. There were costumes, chants, and even a human banner on Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It was political theater at its finest, complete with all the drama and none of the consequences.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And that is the real story here. In a nation where protests are not only allowed but celebrated, No Kings Day had a shallow ring. ; It was a testament to the very freedoms it claimed were under threat. It was a paradox wrapped in a protest, sprinkled with satire and served on a platter of performative outrage. ; It had all the reality of a Broadway stage play.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, what is the legacy of No Kings Day? A few viral TikToks. Some clever signs. And a reminder that in America, you can call your president a tyrant, march in the streets, and still make it home safely in time for dinner. That is not tyranny. That is just another day in the good old USA.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the end, the protest may not have changed policy, but it did offer a moment of clarity. It showed that while the left may be loud, organized, and well-funded, they are still struggling to connect with the broader electorate. The “end of democracy” narrative did not resonate in 2024, and it is not gaining traction now. Trump’s reelection was a surprise to many, but it was also a rejection of the left’s apocalyptic messaging.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, here is a modest proposal for future protests. ; Fewer monarchy metaphors &#8212; and definitely no more Hitler, Nazi, fascist name-calling). While “No Kings” makes for a catchy chant, it does not pay the rent. ; And as for the alleged king?  ;He is still tweeting and still governing as the legitimately elected <strong>President </strong>of the United States. ; There is no throne in the Oval Office.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

“No Kings Day” an impressive nothingburger
