Some supporters of Donald Trump are angrily criticizing the upcoming “No Kings” protests planned for October 18. They’re calling the people who plan to attend things like anti-American, Marxist, violent, or even terrorists. This includes people like Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Representative Steve Scalise, along with right-wing media voices and influencers.
One even suggested using the National Guard to shut the protests down. The fact that they’re all using the same kind of extreme language suggests that this messaging is being coordinated behind the scenes, likely by Trump advisor Stephen Miller.
But this aggressive strategy is backfiring. Instead of scaring people off, it’s motivating more people to show up. Democrats and the event organizers are using the outrage to encourage participation. Even actor Robert De Niro has spoken out in support, which caused more backlash from conservative media like Fox News.
Ironically, the attempt to silence or discredit the protests only strengthens the core message of “No Kings” which is a statement against authoritarianism and abuse of power.
Political writer Jill Lawrence, who often writes about Trump’s hostility toward liberal parts of the country, explains why these kinds of large, peaceful protests really bother the MAGA movement. She argues that the best way to answer their false accusations is simply to show up in big numbers—and that’s exactly what is likely to happen.
