Republican governors in several U.S. states have placed National Guard troops on standby ahead of a wave of nationwide protests opposing President Donald Trump and his policies.
The demonstrations, organised under the banner “No Kings,” are expected to take place at more than 2,500 locations across the country. Organisers say the protests aim to challenge what they describe as Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies,” declaring on their website: “The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.”
Governors in Texas and Virginia have already activated their state National Guard units, though it remains unclear how visible or active the troops will be during the events.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment on Thursday, citing concerns over what he described as a “planned Antifa-linked demonstration” in Austin, the state capital. His decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, including Texas Representative Gene Wu, who said, “Sending armed soldiers to suppress peaceful protests is what kings and dictators do, and Greg Abbott just proved he’s one of them.”
In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin has similarly ordered the state’s National Guard to prepare for potential unrest.
The organisers claim that their last “No Kings” protest in June drew more than five million participants nationwide, marking one of the largest coordinated demonstrations against Trump’s political movement.
Meanwhile, several Republican figures have condemned the planned protests, labelling them “Hate America rallies.” Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, speaking to CNN, said, “We’ll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully it’ll be peaceful. I doubt it.”
Trump allies have accused the movement of ties to far-left groups such as Antifa, though organisers deny any formal association, maintaining that the protests are peaceful calls to defend democratic values.
As demonstrations are set to unfold across the nation, authorities are urging calm and emphasizing the importance of maintaining public safety while respecting the right to protest.
