Massive 'No Kings' protests sweep US cities, Trump responds with "crown" clip
US President Donald Trump has a one-line and visual response to the millions of people carrying out 'No Kings' protests across the United States against his hardline policies and "strong-arm tactics", including attacks on the media, political opponents, and undocumented immigrants.
While the Republican leader insisted that he's "not a king", he posted a series of AI-generated videos depicting himself as one.
"They're referring to me as a king. I'm not a king," he told Fox Business, adding that the Democrats could stay out of the government "forever," so that the president could continue cutting "Democrat priorities", such as welfare programs.
Hours later, he posted an AI-generated clip on his Truth Social platform in which he can be seen wearing a crown and piloting a fighter jet that drops what appears to be faeces on anti-Trump protesters. Among them was Democratic activist Harry Sisson, who frequently criticises Trump.
Another AI-generated video shared by US Vice President JD Vance shows Trump putting on a crown and cape, while Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats kneel before him.
Trump, during the demonstrations, was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, reported the news agency AP.
'No Kings' protests
Protesters are reportedly carrying out over 2,500 rallies across the US, decrying what participants see as the government's swift drift into authoritarianism under Trump. The demonstrations marched through Washington, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, among other states, and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces. People held signs with slogans such as "Nothing is more patriotic than protesting" or "Resist Fascism".
In San Francisco, hundreds of people spelt out "No King!" and other phrases with their bodies on Ocean Beach.
"It just feels like we're living in an America that I don't recognise," one of the protesters said.
Another protester, who had worked at the CIA for 20 years, said, "I fought for freedom and against this kind of extremism abroad. And now I see a moment in America where we have extremists everywhere who are, in my opinion, pushing us to some kind of civil conflict."
This is the third mass demonstration against the Trump government since his return to the White House. The previous 'No Kings' protest in June this year was carried out at 2,100 locations.
