Protesters across the U.S. On Presidents’ Day decry Trump’s power moves, calling his actions tyrannical
On Presidents’ Day, thousands of Americans poured into the streets to protest President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda, rallying against his attempts to dismantle federal institutions and curtail rights. With chants of “No king, no crown,” demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., and other major cities, condemning the President’s alleged authoritarian tendencies.
The protests followed comments made by Trump on social media, where he suggested that his controversial actions were justified, quoting a phrase attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte: “He who saves his country does not violate any law.” Critics, however, see his remarks as a dangerous assertion of unchecked power, reminiscent of a monarch.
Outside the U.S. Capitol, near the National Mall, protesters held an array of symbols and signs, with some waving upside-down American flags—a traditional sign of distress. “It’s a symbol of distress,” said Kaitlin Robertson, one of the protesters. “It’s a good symbol for what’s happening.” Robertson, who works in advocacy for domestic violence survivors, argued that the country was in a “constitutional crisis” due to Trump’s actions to bypass legal constraints and fire federal workers, prosecutors, and independent watchdogs.
The protests saw a wide range of participants, many of whom embraced symbols of patriotism while voicing their opposition to Trump’s policies. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., performed the national anthem by the Capitol Reflecting Pool, drawing loud applause from the crowd when they finished with “the home of the brave.” Shawn Morris, the president of the chorus, spoke about reclaiming the flag from what he sees as Trump’s assault on equality, particularly citing the President’s efforts to push transgender individuals out of the military and remove their references from federal websites.
“There’s nothing more patriotic than fighting against tyranny,” said Kat Duesterhaus, who travelled from Miami to join the protest. Duesterhaus, a staunch opponent of Trump’s policies, saw the demonstration as a direct stand against what she described as a tyrannical regime, further calling attention to potential threats against same-sex marriage protections.
While these protests were a powerful display of dissent, they also came amid growing frustration with the lack of a unified opposition from the Democratic Party. With Republicans holding majorities in both the House and Senate, many Democratic leaders have struggled to respond effectively to Trump’s challenges. Some activists have voiced their anger over the perceived inaction of the party, calling for a more aggressive stance in countering the President’s moves.
Protests like the one on Presidents’ Day reflect a growing sense of urgency among Americans who believe Trump’s presidency is increasingly veering towards autocracy. As these demonstrations gain momentum, the question remains whether the opposition can effectively organise to push back against Trump’s sweeping authority and the erosion of democratic institutions.
