'No Kings' organizers set next protest date. White House called June 14 'utter failure'
'No Kings' organizers set next protest date. White House called June 14 'utter failure'
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'No Kings' protests vastly outdraw Trump's military parade
A stark contrast emerged in attendance between the Trump administration's Army birthday parade in Washington, DC, and the sweeping 'No Kings' protests held nationwide.
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Organizers of the nationwide "No Kings" anti-Trump protests announced a follow-up day of action called "Good Trouble Lives On" for July 17.
The June 14 "No Kings" protests, coinciding with Trump's birthday and the Army's 250th anniversary, saw an estimated 5 million participants across 2,100 communities.
The White House dismissed the protests as a "complete and utter failure" with "minuscule attendance."
A coalition of organizations behind the nationwide "No Kings" protests announced another day of action under the name "Good Trouble Lives On."
In a June 16 call, organizers debriefed on the events of June 14, where the American Civil Liberties Union says more than 5 million people turned out across about 2,100 communities in the U.S. The protests fell on Trump's 79th birthday and coincided with the Army's 250th anniversary parade in Washington. D.C.
" 'Where do we go from here' is a famous line from a Dr. King speech," Barbara Arnwine with Transformative Justice Coalition said on the call. "And where we go from here is July the 17th... We're going to make good trouble because good trouble lives on and we will not stop until we win: no kings, no tyrants, no despots."
"Good trouble" is a term coined by the late Congressman John Lewis, and July 17 will mark five years since his death, the movement's website states.
A map of events shows there are more than 60 demonstrations planned for that day as of June 17.
"Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration," the website states. "Together, we'll remind them that in America, the power lies with the people."
Are people protesting more than usual? 'Jaw-dropping' number planned on Trump's birthday
White House calls 'No King's protest a 'complete and utter failure'
Trump did not post about the protests on his social media site Truth Social.
But the White House did weigh in on the protests in a statement on X.
"The so-called No Kings protests have been a complete and utter failure with minuscule attendance. It is sad Democrats and liberals would rather support criminals and illegals instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of our great U.S. Army and Flag Day," communications director Steven Cheung wrote. "But many more Americans are commemorating our brave military men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice and who those continue to serve our country."
'No Kings' organizer estimates 5 million participants nationwide
The American Civil Liberties Union, one of the co-organizers of the protests, estimated that more than 5 million people participated in about 2,100 demonstrations across the U.S.
'(Saturday's) protests are a resounding message that people across the nation will not be intimidated by President Trump's fear tactics. Americans are brave, democracy loving people and will not sit idly by as the Trump administration feeds our Constitution into the shredder — nor will the ACLU,' ACLU chief political and advocacy officer Deirdre Schifeling said in a press release on June 14.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of one of the organizing groups, Indivisible, called it one of the largest protests in American history.
"Blue states, red states, purple states, city centers, suburbs, rural America....we have friends everywhere," he said on the June 16 call.
USA TODAY reached out to organizers for this story.
Contributing: James Powell, Sarah D. Wire, Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY Network
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
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