President Donald Trump responded forcefully to millions of Americans who participated in “No Kings” protests across the country over the weekend, dismissing accusations that he is acting like a monarch.
When asked about the rallies as he returned to Washington DC on Sunday night, the president stated plainly, “I’m not a king.”
Trump added that he works his “a** off” to make the country great.
The demonstrations took place in major cities on Saturday, with liberal protesters claiming the president is undermining American democracy and violating citizens’ First Amendment rights.
Trump’s Sunday remarks aboard Air Force One marked his latest response to the widespread demonstrations.
Prior to his verbal response, Trump had shared an AI-generated video on Truth Social showing himself piloting a fighter jet marked with “King Trump.”
The video depicted the president in military uniform wearing a jeweled crown while Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” played.
The controversial clip showed Trump’s plane hovering over Times Square in New York City, where he dropped a brown liquid resembling feces on protesters below.
Trump has additionally used artificial intelligence to create a Time Magazine cover featuring himself wearing a crown with the text “long live the King.”
Vice President JD Vance participated in the satirical messaging, posting a video showing Trump as a monarch while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats knelt before them.
Saturday’s protesters criticized Trump’s actions, accusing him of governing like an authoritarian rather than an American president.
Demonstrators cited the administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement raids targeting illegal immigrants for deportation.
Protesters also referenced the State Department’s recent decision to revoke visas belonging to six foreigners who allegedly ridiculed the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Outlets noted that additional motivation came from ABC temporarily removing comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from the air after he claimed Kirk’s killer was a Trump supporter.
The alleged assassin was actually a liberal who prosecutors say harbored intense hatred toward Kirk because of his conservative Christian values.
Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced he was considering an investigation into Kimmel and ABC following the incident, and the network subsequently suspended Kimmel’s program indefinitely.
Trump later suggested that networks providing negative coverage of him could face broadcast license revocation.
The president has since excluded ABC reporters from covering his presidency after news anchor George Stephanopoulos abruptly ended an interview with JD Vance, during which he questioned the vice president about rumors that Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe in an FBI undercover operation.
Chicago protesters focused heavily on Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to their city.
Mayor Brandon Johnson urged the crowd to “be ready to defend this democracy” and to “be ready to fight fascism.”
Actor John Cusack echoed Johnson’s message, stating that everyone understands how authoritarians operate by dividing and conquering through creating an “other” to harass and jail while stealing resources and maintaining power.
Cusack referenced what he described as “masked goons roaming the streets, hiding their faces, abducting people.”
The actor claimed Trump’s attempt to transform Chicago into a “fascist hub” would fail because the president does not understand that labor rights movements originated from Chicago.
When asked what message Chicago had for the president, Cusack simply replied, “Go to hell.”
Despite controversies, the Trump administration has achieved several victories and received praise for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The president was celebrated as a hero following the return of 20 living Israeli hostages and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, honored Trump with a three-minute standing ovation and chants of his name.
Activists in Tel Aviv created a large beach display thanking Trump for his role in the ceasefire agreement.
Trump has experienced success in dealings with foreign leaders and raised substantial funds through his tariff policies, the Daily Mail highlighted.
Foreign leaders have agreed to various demands to avoid retaliatory tariffs on goods entering the United States, and European NATO members have increased defense spending.
Trump’s tariffs generated nearly $50 billion for the US economy through July, with customs duty revenues reaching $64 billion in the second quarter.
This record high represents $47 billion more than the same period last year, according to US Treasury data.
Trump announced last month that his Florida golf club will host next year’s G20 summit, stating each world leader would receive a separate building at the Doral estate in December 2026.
The president now aims to secure another peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump has reportedly pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to surrender the entire Donbas region to Russian President Vladimir Putin and accept Putin’s terms for ending the two-year conflict.
Simultaneously, Trump plans to meet with Putin to persuade him to accommodate some of Zelensky’s demands.
