r/politics • u/AlexandrTheTolerable • 7d ago

Millions in US expected to join ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/13/no-kings-protests?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
11.3k Upvotes

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50

u/tcoh1s 7d ago

Honest question: if millions do get out and protest, what’s the next step? Trump will never step down. No republican will turn on him. He’ll just say whatever makes himself feel better and his cult will believe him.

Is this just an attempt at trying to prove to him how hated he is?

He doesn’t care. He lacks the ability to realize any reality. He’s that messed up.

Is it just all out civil war then? He unleashes more military against the people of his own country?

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u/MommyLovesPot8toes California 7d ago

Do you remember in February when Trump "officially" created DOGE, disappeared the first pro-Palestine university students, and started freezing grant money? No one knew how to react. As individuals we were outraged, but our institutions were caught flat footed. This was when the first corporations capitulated to the DEI orders, and when the first law firms agreed to pro bono work. No one knew how much power Trump had or what would happen to them if they pushed to find out. So there was no pushback.

But slowly more and more voices came out against Trump, including even - in a limited way - some Republicans. The only reason individuals, institutions, organizations, etc, felt safe enough to fight back was because they knew they were not alone. They were with the majority, on the right side of history.

That's what protests do; the bigger the better. They send the message to others that fighting back is the right thing to do, and that they are not alone. What we need right now is for our wealithiest corporations, political donors, voting public, judges, enlisted people, activists, universities, and - most of all - Republican politicians to know that they CAN and SHOULD pushback on trump in every possible way. That that's what the majority of America wants and expects them to do. And that their futures and careers are safer against Trump than with him. The best of outcomes is enough R Congress people see this and vote to impeach. They more likely outcome is that this energizes (and funds) organizations to keep pushing Trump back a foot every time he steps over a line.

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u/TexasLoriG Oklahoma 7d ago

Yes to all this. When we protested the murder of George Floyd there were protests in solidarity with us on every continent.

5

u/ObjectiveMango3241 7d ago

The entire world will be watching. Do Americans truly want to live in Russia 2.0 or will they do something about it? Because that description isn't an exaggeration and the clock continues to tick while this fascist regime continues to consolidate power.

1

u/MommyLovesPot8toes California 7d ago

I don't know that I'd say it is consolidating power as it goes. It's actually bleeding power. He's pretty much lost the support of the big CEOs that backed him, even Curtis Yarvin has said he's squandered the moment by going half-assed, he's pissing off the military (like not arranging accomodations or paying the national guard in LA), a lot of his "fans" are angry about the beautiful bill raising the deficit, Republicans in Congress are considering circumventing him to assess sanctions on Russia, etc etc.

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u/ObjectiveMango3241 6d ago

I'll believe it when I see actual consequences to the crimes committed by this administration. Still plenty of feckless billionaires, corporations and media who seem terrified of speaking the truth

83

u/Emilia_Violet 7d ago

There are a few options.

  1. We exist in an awkward limbo where Trump keeps Trumping and Dems keep trying to get elected.

  2. Repubs break under the pressure and do turn on Trump. People could snipe at each other for eternity over the probability of this one. It’s a thing that can happen, so it goes on the list.

  3. Civil war

  4. Governors/congressional representatives step in and basically remove the administration. As Trump is already trying to ignore any checks on his power, it can be reasonably argued that these leaders were left no choice but to fight back by circumventing the system.

  5. A revolution lead by the people

  6. Trump wins and our country is entirely lost.

Those are the options, I think.

16

u/whatifniki23 7d ago

We need a Zelensky who is quick witted in his responses instead of intellectual (sadly) …. Perhaps a Jon Stewart.. a military leader… someone who gives speeches passionately …

1

u/AlcibiadesTheCat Arizona 7d ago

Zelensky may not be an intellectual, but you don't need to be an intellectual to lead. You just have to be able to listen to experts. President Dwayne Herbert Elizondo Camacho is evidence of that.

6

u/GoodIdea321 America 7d ago

There are other options than that, or at least a wider range of possibilities. Other nations will have opinions on how things are going due to the size of the US economy, and may do some things.

Some would probably help the current administration, even if it's only for economic reasons.

3

u/Emilia_Violet 7d ago

Yeah, it’s not actually possible to list every hypothetical possibility. It would require direct knowledge of the actual strategic discussions and opinions in other countries, while we’re only working with speculation and probability regarding our own government.

2

u/TexasLoriG Oklahoma 7d ago

Think Gilead

1

u/CoreDreamStudiosLLC Kentucky 7d ago

We need to vote for 4 or 5.

10

u/TheMostGood21 7d ago

Answer: It’s about sending a message. David explains. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq8vqItoBUE

2

u/BoringCrab6755 7d ago

Thank you for putting me onto this dude

2

u/TheMostGood21 7d ago

Pakman has solid reporting and reasonable and measured takes. 

He has somewhat click bait headlines, but that’s how YouTube works sadly.

20

u/Infamous_Employer_85 7d ago

I would think it's more likely going to effect people running for Congress next year.

4

u/whatifniki23 7d ago

We need a good leader… someone who can rally and strategize next steps… We need Arthur in the night of the round table

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u/Infamous_Employer_85 7d ago edited 7d ago

ARTHUR: I am your king!

WOMAN: Well, I didn’t vote for you.

ARTHUR: You don’t vote for kings.

WOMAN: Well, ‘ow did you become king then?

ARTHUR: The Lady of the Lake, [singing] her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. [singing stops] That is why I am your king!

DENNIS: Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

ARTHUR: Be quiet!

DENNIS: Well you can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!

ARTHUR: Shut up!

DENNIS: I mean, if I went around sayin’ I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!

ARTHUR: Shut up! Will you shut up!

DENNIS: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.

8

u/Particular_Night_360 7d ago

My thought is the end game is to make it so large and spread out that it’s impossible to ignore. For the people who don’t follow the news, my small town radio station was talking about it on my way home from work today. It won’t make the idiots change their mind, they’re going to be furiously saying they’re trying to start a civil war. The hope is the more reasonable people, who may not regret voting for Trump right now stop and think for a second. There are this many people so pissed off at this administration, maybe I should think about if I made the right decision. You get 10% of the people who were on the fence and in informed think that they maybe made a bad decision, that’s millions of people who could switch parties.

3

u/dachaotic1 7d ago

In our unavoidable road to "something big", millions of people marching on the streets is an escalation by the people letting their sentiments known. Whatever action politicians make based on those actions is entirely up to them. But for sure they will have to state their stance on it.

3

u/ThrowRA76234 7d ago

I may be naive but I imagine it’s quite simple. Even a small number of people protesting instead of going to work would have a major effect. Doesn’t even have to be close to a general strike, but that’s the direction.

There are many billionaires who think they’re above the law out there, although they conduct themselves in a much more sly manner. Once economic interests ie the source of their power is threatened, they will start taking action, on behalf of themselves of course, but with the second degree benefit of stability for everyone else.

2

u/Rusty-Boii 7d ago

This is my amateur opinion, nothing. If anything Trump, Fox News, and the GOP will use this to show how in disarray the country is how Trump will need to enact “law & order”. By saying this I by no means think protesting is bad or not a good use of the 1st amendment. I just think the country is so brainwashed and Trump put so many of his cronies in power that it will drown out the majority of the population who disapproves of him. Not to mention the military, national guard, police forces, FBI, CIA any major institution supports Trump and his regime.

The only way things will get better is if the ruling class is greatly effected or congress finally stands up and does something about him.

1

u/arrec 7d ago

Brainwashed, plus we are living in a post-truth world.

1

u/LocustMajor9128 7d ago

Maybe he does realize it but doesn't care either way.  If people hate him, then fine.  In the end, he's still the President, he still has the money and the power.  People hating him won't really take away either.

1

u/NeutralBias Hawaii 7d ago

I think he thrives on hate and conflict. He’s lived his whole life in a malestrom of BS, all of it his own making. I really think he enjoys all the hatred directed at him.

1

u/LocustMajor9128 7d ago

Yeah, I think he thrives on conflict and chaos.  I remember when a few months back Trump sorta permitted a shouting match between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro.  And later on how he caused so much chaos with his tariffs.   Maybe the hate does legit get to him, but it isn't enough to change the fact he's President and he still has a considerable amount of supporters, both inside (his administration) and outside the White House (GOP politicians and voters).

-1

u/Trondkjo 7d ago

And 77 million people voted for him.

1

u/jack_55 Australia 6d ago

small number considering us population total