USA: "No Kings" protests against Trump – Thousands take to the streets

These are scenes that stay with you. From the East Coast to California, people are back out on the streets, and this time the chants are louder, the signs more provocative. The "No Kings" protests against Donald Trump have gathered a momentum in recent days that has taken even seasoned observers of American politics by surprise. This is no longer just the classic resistance seen in big cities; the unrest is spreading to the heartlands.

I get the sense that something different is brewing here compared to his first term. Between 2015 and 2017, the demonstrations often felt like a spontaneous reaction to shocking decrees. This time, it's different. There's a structure, a historical depth to it that echoes the great civil rights movements. One name keeps coming up in these circles: the historian Ta-Nehisi Coates. His book "We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy" has become something of a bible for them. It sums up what so many fear: that the struggle 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 admit.

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 mix of deep-seated anxiety and raw anger. Talk to people in Washington, and they'll tell you the same: the protests against Donald Trump have become a rallying point for everyone who feels American democracy is veering onto a dangerous path.

• The fear for the separation of powers: Under the banner "No Kings," this is no longer just about individual laws, but the fundamental question of whether the US is heading towards authoritarianism. The judiciary is under attack, and Congress often seems relegated to the role of 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. And that terrifies them.
• Economic uncertainty: Forget the charts and stock market figures. In states where industry is struggling, and among young people who can no longer afford a home, the feeling is growing that politics now only serves its donors.

Just let that sink in: you have people demonstrating against Middle Eastern foreign policy, while right next to them someone holds up a sign quoting the Constitution. And it's all united under the common belief that democracy is not the property of one individual. I've been to some of these marches myself, and the energy is infectious – but also deeply unsettling.

A movement without a master plan?

The big question, of course, remains: where is this all heading? Some warn of a division that will drive the country even further apart. Others see it as the last stand of civil society before it's too late. I remember the protests of 2016 well, when many thought it was just a temporary backlash. Now I know: the protests against Donald Trump since 2024 are a different beast entirely. They're more organised, more far-reaching, and – this is the crucial part – they have a narrative backbone.

It's this blend of historical reflection, like the kind Coates engages in, with the current anger over political decisions. On trains heading to Washington, or in coffee shops in Portland, the conversation isn't just about the latest headline, but about how to keep a democracy "repairable." That's what makes this movement so powerful, and at the same time, so unpredictable for the establishment in Washington.