It was freezing. Honestly, if you were in Boston or Lansing on February 17, 2025, you know the kind of bone-chilling cold that makes your sign-holding hand go numb in seconds. But thousands of people showed up anyway. They didn't come for a parade or a mattress sale. They came to scream—metaphorically and literally—about the direction of the country.
The Trump protests Presidents Day events, often branded as "No Kings on Presidents Day," weren't just a localized fluke. They were a massive, coordinated middle finger to the second Trump administration. We’re talking about demonstrations in dozens of cities, from the slushy streets of the East Coast to the sunny (but politically heated) steps of the Arizona Statehouse.
People are calling it the "No Kings" movement. It’s a catchy name, sure, but the sentiment behind it is pretty heavy. The organizers, largely led by the 50501 Movement—which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one movement—wanted to hit a specific nerve. They weren't just protesting Donald Trump; they were taking aim at the "plutocratic" influence of Elon Musk and the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Why Presidents Day?
You’ve got to appreciate the irony. Presidents Day is supposed to be this neat little holiday honoring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. You know, the guys who basically invented the "no kings allowed" vibe of American democracy.
Protesters leaned hard into that history. In Boston, you had people dressed in Revolutionary War-style bluecoats, marching from the Statehouse to City Hall. It looked like a history project gone rogue. Their message? America is a republic, not a monarchy.
Emily Manning, a 55-year-old engineer from Boston, told reporters she brought her teenage sons because she felt American values were being traded for the interests of a "limited few rich people." She wasn't alone. That "No Kings" slogan was everywhere. It was on cardboard signs in Washington D.C. and chanted in the snow in Michigan.
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The Musk Factor and DOGE
This wasn’t your 2017-era "Resist" march. Things have changed. This time around, the anger was sharply focused on the synergy between Trump and Elon Musk.
When Trump tapped Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, it sent shockwaves through the federal workforce. By the time Presidents Day rolled around in 2025, we were already seeing reports of layoffs across various agencies. Naturally, that fueled the fire.
- In Washington, D.C., signs specifically called to "Deport Musk" and "Dethrone Trump."
- Lansing, Michigan saw over 700 people at the Capitol steps, braving a polar vortex.
- Phoenix got particularly heated. Protesters tried to enter the Arizona Statehouse to oppose a bill that would force local police to help with federal immigration enforcement. Security had to block the doors.
It’s interesting because the movement started on Reddit and took off through social media, much like the original 2017 "Not My Presidents Day" rallies. But the 2025 version felt more... professional? Maybe that’s not the right word. It felt more targeted. They weren't just mad; they had a list of grievances that read like a legal brief.
A Second Wave of Resistance
If you look at the data, the scale of these Trump protests Presidents Day events is actually kind of wild. Research from groups like Harvard’s Crowd Counting Consortium has shown that the volume of protests in early 2025 actually surpassed the early days of Trump’s first term.
In June 2025, a follow-up "No Kings" protest drew an estimated five million people across 2,100 locations. That’s insane. It coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday and a massive military parade he’d planned. The protesters effectively overshadowed the parade in terms of sheer numbers.
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The movement has also spread into "Trump country." We’re seeing rallies in counties that Trump won by double digits in 2024. Places like Mammoth Cave National Park saw "Resistance Rangers" protesting federal cuts. It’s not just the big coastal cities anymore.
Comparing 2017 and 2025
The first "Not My Presidents Day" in 2017 was a reaction to a shock. People were still reeling from the election. The 2025 version, however, felt like a calculated response to specific policy actions.
| Feature | 2017 Protests | 2025 Protests |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Theme | "Not My President" / Identity | "No Kings" / Anti-Plutocracy |
| Key Targets | Travel Ban / General Opposition | DOGE / Musk / Mass Deportations |
| Geographic Reach | Major Urban Hubs | Widespread (20% of US Counties) |
| Atmosphere | Shock and Outrage | Organized Defiance |
The "No Kings" Philosophy
Honestly, the "No Kings" branding is a bit of a stroke of genius from a marketing perspective. It bypasses some of the more partisan "Left vs. Right" rhetoric and goes straight for the "American Patriot" angle. By framing the protest as a defense of the Constitution against "monarchical" overreach, they managed to pull in a broader demographic.
But it wasn't all peaceful Revolutionary War reenactments. There’s been a measurable shift in the temperature of the country. According to Brookings, support for political violence among left-leaning Americans actually ticked up to 26% in late 2025, while it fell among the right. That’s a scary statistic, and it’s something that even the protest organizers have struggled to manage. December Archer, one of the Phoenix organizers, made a point to say her goal was to keep things civil, even as people were trying to push past security into the Capitol.
What This Means for 2026 and Beyond
We’re sitting here in 2026, and the momentum hasn't really died down. If anything, it’s just getting more organized as we head toward the midterms.
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The Trump protests Presidents Day were the opening act for a much larger cycle of dissent. We saw the "Hands Off" protests in April 2025 and the massive June 14 rallies. Now, as the 250th anniversary of the United States approaches this July, organizers are planning "No Kings" demonstrations to coincide with the national celebrations.
It’s a weird time to be an American. You’ve got half the country celebrating "Salute to America 250" and the other half dressing up like redcoats to mock the President.
Actionable Insights for Moving Forward
If you're following these movements or thinking about getting involved, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the current landscape:
- Verify Your Sources: A lot of these protests are organized on platforms like Reddit or X (formerly Twitter). Always check with established groups like Indivisible or the ACLU to ensure an event is legitimate and has the necessary permits.
- Know the Law: In 2025, we saw an increase in "trespassing" charges at rallies where people tried to enter private venues or government buildings. If you're attending, know where the public property ends and the restricted area begins.
- Safety First: The polar vortex during the 2025 Presidents Day rallies wasn't a joke. If you're heading to a winter protest, dress in layers and have a plan for where to warm up.
- Digital Footprints: Be aware that "troll farms" and foreign actors have been caught organizing fake "anti-Trump" events in the past to sow discord. If a protest seems weirdly aggressive or lacks a clear organizational backing, do your homework before you go.
The "No Kings" movement has proven that it has staying power. It’s not just a holiday weekend distraction; it’s a sustained effort to challenge the status quo of the second Trump term. Whether you think they're patriots or "traitors" (as one Trump supporter in NYC called them), you can't deny they've changed the way we look at Presidents Day.
The next big flashpoint is July 4, 2026. If history is any indication, it’s going to be loud.