GOP Leaders Call ‘No Kings’ Protest A ‘Hate America’ Rally, Baselessly Suggest Terror Link

Republican leaders in Congress are accusing progressive groups of being unpatriotic ahead of a series of large “No Kings” protests planned against President Donald Trump for next weekend. The rallies, which are being organized by several liberal and pro-democracy groups, are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the country on October 18.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers claimed that the people organizing the protests are part of what they described as radical movements. Johnson said that “the Antifa crowd, the pro-Hamas crowd, and the Marxists” would be gathering on the National Mall, suggesting that the groups oppose traditional American values. He also accused Senate Democrats of keeping the federal government shut down to avoid upsetting those protesters, calling it “an outrageous gathering for outrageous purposes.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed that claim during a press conference, calling the event a “Hate America rally.” He argued that Democrats are allowing the government to stay closed in order to show support for people he said “hate this country.” According to Scalise, Democrats believe that by continuing the shutdown, they are taking a stand against President Trump and gaining favor with progressive activists.

Representative Tom Emmer went even further, suggesting that some of the protest organizers were linked to what he called “the terrorist wing” of the Democratic Party. He said that the demonstrations were meant to score political points with extremists.

The “No Kings” coalition, which includes well-known liberal organizations such as MoveOn, Indivisible, and Public Citizen, strongly rejected those claims. In a statement, the coalition said the Republicans were trying to deflect blame for the government shutdown, which they said was caused by Speaker Johnson’s refusal to compromise on key funding issues. They argued that the protests are not about hating America but about standing up for democracy and the belief that “America belongs to its people, not to kings.”

The protests are meant to express opposition to what organizers describe as growing authoritarianism under Trump’s administration. The slogan “No Kings” is intended to emphasize their view that no president or political leader should act above the law. The groups involved say they are demanding that the government reopen, protect affordable health care, and take steps to reduce costs for working families.

Republicans, however, insist that Democrats are using the protests as a political weapon and that the shutdown is part of a strategy to appeal to left-leaning voters. They say the Democrats’ refusal to pass the latest House funding bill shows that they are more concerned with political theater than with helping American citizens.

The shutdown began last week after Senate Democrats voted against a Republican-backed funding measure, arguing that it failed to address key issues such as the renewal of health insurance subsidies. Since then, both sides have blamed each other for the ongoing stalemate.

Despite the harsh rhetoric, organizers of the “No Kings” movement have pointed out that their past rallies have been peaceful and widely attended. Earlier this year, similar protests were held in cities across the country, drawing what they claimed were millions of participants. Those earlier demonstrations received less political criticism at the time, but this new round has gained more attention due to the shutdown and the increasingly tense political climate.

Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, dismissed the Republican accusations, saying that Democrats are not delaying government funding because of the protests. He said Republicans are “floundering” and trying to shift public blame away from their own role in the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has promised to take a tougher stance on left-wing groups it accuses of promoting unrest or political violence. The “No Kings” organizers deny any connection to violence and say their goal is to peacefully defend democratic principles and hold leaders accountable.

In the middle of all this political tension, the protests are shaping up to be a major flashpoint in the debate over freedom of speech, government accountability, and the future of democracy in the United States.