Republican governors across multiple U.S. states have placed National Guard troops on standby in anticipation of widespread protests opposing former President Donald Trump and his policies. The demonstrations, organized under the banner ‘No Kings,’ are expected to occur at over 2,500 locations nationwide. Protest organizers claim the movement aims to challenge what they describe as Trump’s ‘authoritarianism,’ asserting on their website, ‘In America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.’
Governors in Texas and Virginia have activated their state’s National Guard, though the extent of military visibility remains uncertain. Texas Governor Greg Abbott justified the deployment by citing a ‘planned antifa-linked demonstration’ in Austin, the state capital. Similarly, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has ordered the activation of the state’s National Guard.
Critics, including Democratic leaders, have condemned the move. Gene Wu, a prominent Texas Democrat, accused Abbott of acting like a ‘king or dictator’ by deploying armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests. Meanwhile, some Republicans have labeled the protests as ‘Hate America’ rallies, with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall expressing skepticism about the events remaining peaceful.
The ‘No Kings’ movement, which previously drew over five million participants in June, continues to galvanize opposition to Trump’s political agenda. As tensions rise, the nation watches closely to see how these protests will unfold and what impact they may have on the broader political landscape.