People Gather at the No Kings Rally in Tampa, and Boy, Are They Pissed
As part of a national “No Kings” movement, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Tampa to protest the Trump administration
The No Kings organization scheduled more than 2,500 demonstrations across the United States on October 18, with participation expected to reach into the millions. The movement was formed in response to what it describes as the authoritarian policies of Donald Trump and widespread corruption within his administration. Tampa’s rally started at 4:00 downtown.
Protestors brought signs and chanted anti-Trump slogans outside of Tampa City Hall
It was a remarkably diverse gathering—young and old, families and singles, all standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.
The last nationwide No Kings protest took place on June 14, 2025—coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday—and reportedly drew over five million participants in more than 2,100 cities and towns across the country.
Reactions from political leaders about the protests were sharply divided. House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the demonstrations as a “hate America rally,” while other Republicans labeled the movement as anti-American. In contrast, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended the protests, stating: “Showing up to express dissent against an out-of-control administration—that’s as American as motherhood and baseball.”
A core principle of all No Kings events is a firm commitment to nonviolent action. I wondered how that would square with the recent repeal of Florida’s open carry firearms law, especially with pot-stirring comments on the Tampa Bay Times social media page, like “I'm bringing my Interarms Commemorative 1776-1976 .44 Magnum open carry for when the going gets tough… It’s gonna me Epic.“ All it takes is one self-righteous hot head.
I saw no side arms or strap-on long guns, and I was looking. Nor did I see any counter-protestors. Most surprisingly, aside from the consistent presence of a helicopter, I saw no uniformed law enforcement even though the protest was literally in the shadow of the downtown Tampa police headquarters. I’m sure I was surrounded by plain-clothes law enforcement.
A protester holds a hand-painted sign reading “No Kings”
It was a diverse crowd.
The demonstration began in front of City Hall along Kennedy Boulevard. Hundreds of people lined the sidewalks, waving protest signs and making noise as a steady stream of cars rolled past—windows down, horns blaring, voices shouting words of support. After about an hour, the crowd began to march down Franklin Street, making its way to Curtis Hixon Park. There, they filled both sides of Ashley Drive, once again cheered on by more vehicles festooned with flags and hand-painted messages. The main group paused at several points in the park to chant and rally together.
The march departed from City Hall, moved down Franklin Street, and crossed Ashley Drive before gathering at Curtis Hixon Park for the rally.
The No Kings demonstration continues at Curtis Hixon Park
It was a remarkably diverse gathering—young and old, families and singles, all standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity. It was heartening to see parents bringing their children to witness democracy and activism in action. Flags from many nations waved above the crowd, and people from across the social spectrum—immigrants (some wearing masks), members of the LGBTQ community, and even military veterans—came to make their voices heard.
Some participants wore masks, ostensibly to conceal their identities.
American flags were carried by many demonstrators, some proudly, some upside down as a symbol of distress
They chanted the familiar protest refrain: “Hey, hey, ho, ho—Donald Trump (or Ron DeSantis) has got to go!” They spoke about corruption, immigration, and authoritarianism. They spoke of resisting fascism, demanding that ICE be banned, and making further demands to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. A man in Marine fatigues carried a sign reading "Immigrants built this country." Another man, dressed like Donald Trump on a toilet, held a mock cell phone that read, "The Nobel Peace Prize results are rigged." Many signs carried the “No Kings” logo, and many others just said “Fuck Trump”. One of the funniest was “Impeach Trump so Bad Bunny can tour the U.S.” I snorted and laughed when I saw one that said “Veto the Cheeto” referring to Trump’s bronzed skin. The unity of ideas brought on camaraderie and energy. Some participants came to hear the message and snap selfies with protest signs, while others were there to make sure their voices were heard. There were a lot of American flags, some carried proudly, some upside down.
A mock Donald Trump sitting on a toilet, complaining of the rigged Nobel Peace Prize award.
Bad Bunny's advocate wants to see a national tour
There were several references to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
I was just a kid back then, but the energy of the day reminded me of the Vietnam War protests I’d seen in old newsreels—raw, passionate, and deeply American.
Crowds stand in the shadow of the Tampa Police headquarters downtown.
Demonstrators line Ashley St. with protest signs, waving at vehicles festooned with flags, honking horns, and screaming support for the effort.
Ditch the Dick Tator (sic) was a consistent theme in protest signs.
A possible magazine cover.
Not My President banner at the Tampa No Kings rally.
Famously attributed to Marie Antoinette, Let them Eat Cake refers to the out-of-touch rich.
Given the success of the national movement, there will be more No Kings rallies. It remains to be seen if they can convert their opposition into meaningful action. It takes more than catchy protest signs and marching through downtowns to change the power and political manipulation of a far-reaching administration.