USA: 'No Kings' protests against Trump – thousands take to the streets

These are scenes that stick in your mind. From the East Coast to California, people are once again taking to the streets, and this time the chants are louder, the placards more provocative. In recent days, the 'No Kings' protests against Donald Trump have gathered a momentum that has caught even hardened observers of American politics off guard. This is no longer just the classic resistance from the big cities; there’s a groundswell stirring across the heartland.

I get the sense that something different is growing here compared to his first term. Between 2015 and 2017, the demonstrations often felt like a spontaneous reaction to surprise executive orders. This time, it's different. There’s a structure, a historical depth that calls to mind the great civil rights movements. One name that keeps cropping up in these circles is that of the historian Ta-Nehisi Coates. His book 'We were eight years in power: An American Tragedy' has become something of a bible in these communities. It encapsulates what many fear: that the fight for democracy is never truly over, and that the achievements of the past – particularly the Obama years – can crumble faster than we’d like to think.

From war with Iran to the Constitution: the many faces of protest

What fascinates me most about these protests since 2024 is the sheer range of reasons driving people onto the streets. It's no longer about a single flashpoint, but a blend of deep-seated anxiety and raw anger. Speak to people in Washington, and they’re unanimous: the protests against Donald Trump this time around have become a gathering point for anyone who feels American democracy is teetering on a dangerous edge.

• Concerns over the separation of powers: Under the 'No Kings' banner, it's long stopped being about individual pieces of legislation. It's now about the fundamental question of whether the US is heading towards authoritarianism. The judiciary is under attack, and Congress increasingly seems like a spectator.
• Foreign policy as a flashpoint: The anxiety over a war with Iran isn't just a matter of international diplomacy. For many here, it's proof that the executive branch is making decisions of historic consequence without the backing of the people. It's deeply unsettling.
• Economic insecurity: Forget the charts and stock market figures. In states where industry is struggling, and among young people who can no longer afford a home, there's a growing feeling that politics is only working for its donors.

Just think about it: you have people demonstrating against Middle East foreign policy, while right next to them someone is holding a placard quoting the Constitution. All of it under the common denominator that democracy isn't the property of any one individual. I've been to a few of these marches myself, and the energy is infectious – but also deeply troubling.

A movement without a masterplan?

The big question, of course, remains: where is this all heading? Some warn of a division that will push the country even deeper into the mire. Others see it as a last-ditch cry from civil society before it's too late. I vividly remember the protests of 2016, when many thought it was just a temporary blip. Now I know: the protests against Donald Trump since 2024 are a different beast altogether. They are more organised, more far-reaching and – crucially – they have a narrative backbone.

It's this mix of historical reflection, like that in Coates’ book, and the current fury over political decisions. On trains to Washington or in coffee shops in Portland, people aren't just discussing the latest headline; they're debating how to keep a democracy 'repairable'. That's what makes this movement so powerful, and at the same time so unpredictable for the Washington establishment.