Recently, from New York to Los Angeles, from Texas to Alaska, the U.S. has completely "burned the pot." More than 3 million people took to the streets in 50 states and more than 2600 protests to launch a wave of "no king" protests.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Senator Sanders, and the radical new star AOC have all openly expressed their support for the demonstration.
What else did Trump do to get the left to the liberals, college students to veterans all out on the streets?
Politics of Firearms
The demonstration has two main drivers, Trump’s immigration and education policies, which have been controversial and have become increasingly controversial in the course of Trump’s term.
First of all, immigrants Border Law Enforcement Increased UnprecedentedlyThe National Guard directed into the southern border cities, searching for illegal immigrants almost every day. The Associated Press reports that there has even been family separation and long-term detention of minors in the Texas Strip. Sparking humanitarian controversy。
And Trump announced the so-called “Trump Gold Card” plan. You can buy a U.S. green card for $5 million.。As soon as this policy was released, it was immediately approved as a "pass for the rich." A legal column points out that this practice may violate the constitutional fairness clause and may also become a hotbed for money laundering. Many protesters viewed the “golden card” as a counterpart to American values, not looking at contributions, looking at banknotes.
Education is not calm either, Harvard University was suddenly disqualified from recruiting international studentsHarvard University is seen as a symbol of the globalized elite, and the hand over it means the suppression of the entire international academic system.
Worse, the Trump administration has also carried out a “strengthening background review” for international students in the STEM field, which has led to a surge in visa approval times. Many international students from China, India and other countries are stuck outside the admission threshold, and many cooperation projects of China universities have also been suspended.
The problems in these two areas may seem to be separate, but they are actually the same in essence. A more closed, exclusive, and "America first" policy line is advancing. This "fortress" America no longer welcomes immigrants or encourages academic mobility, but actively cuts off its connection with the world.This was the core reason that triggered this demonstration.
The wave of protest
In an interview with The Guardian, Greenberg said: “We are not against the president, we are against him using the president as king.”
The protests flooded from the initial streets and quickly got a reaction from the establishment.Hillary publicly expressed support on social platforms for "the right to peacefully defend the Constitution", while Sanders called it "a just response to unfair policies", and the AOC stood directly on the floor of the New York rally.
Three distinctly different political positions reached rare consensus in this protest.
Of course, the main line of peaceful demonstrations also faces challenges. Despite repeated calls for restraint by organizers, a small number of conflicts broke out in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and other places. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, causing some public opinion to rebound.
Overall, however, the protests were clearly more organized and constitutional than in June.
Trump responded on Fox Business Channel: "I am not the king." He described the movement as "another farce between the left-wing media and the Democratic elite" and insisted there would be no policy changes.
He was shaping himself as a “civil leader under siege” and trying to consolidate supporters’ emotions with narratives of “Your anger makes me stronger.”
This demonstration is no longer just an opposition to policy, but an extension of a “cultural war”. The protesters want to defend an open, pluralistic, and free-moving America, while Trump supports a clear border, power-centric, and traditional “pure America.”
social tears
If the scale of the protests is shocking, the composition of the protesters is more worthy of consideration. Professor Fisher pointed out that this action broke down traditional class boundaries. Low-income groups were worried about being expelled, the middle class was worried that their children would not be able to receive higher education, and even some high-net-worth people expressed dissatisfaction with the "green card sale."
This is a rare " Interclass alliance"Although temporary, it is enough to form political momentum. From an ideological perspective, this large-scale confrontation shows that the positions of the two sides have completely opposed each other. The space for the center is being squeezed, and the American political spectrum is polarized.
This polarization not only affects the social atmosphere, but also may change the electoral pattern. The mid-term elections in November next year have been regarded as a referendum on Trump's line. The tide of protests will undoubtedly stir up voting enthusiasm among Democrats and independent voters, but conservatives may also be more united.。
The hardships of the Trump administration are also becoming increasingly apparent, continuing to be hard, which may exacerbate contradictions; moderate concessions may also be seen as “weaknesses” and he has chosen not to step back halfway.
But when the political game in the United States becomes Civil war-style confrontationThe loss of soft power has been reflected in many aspects, the decline of international students, foreign investment outlook, and confidence in allies.
This "involution" political storm not only disrupted the United States 'own order, but also brought uncertainty to the global landscape.
In the past, the United States influenced the world by institutional export; Now, the United States is trapping itself with institutional infighting. It can be seen from the outside world that this country is experiencing a shock from root to branch.
From political fires, to street fires, to the reaction of political temples, The “No-King” protest is not only a huge challenge to Trump’s second term, it could also be a landmark node in American modern political history.
It clearly shows that Trump-style view of governance is facing an institutional and social backlash. This rebound is unprecedentedly powerful and has an unprecedentedly broad front.
Amidst the storm, America stands at a crossroads, choosing to continue to tear or learn to sew wounds?
Reference information: "No king!" Anti-Trump administration protests broke out in many places in the United States, with 7 million people participating 2025-10-19 16:13·Daily Economic News