Democracy, Not Dynasty
Mayukh Biswas
THE core principle of Rabindranath Tagore's "We Are All Kings in this Kingdom" (Amra sabai Raja amader ei Rajar rajotwe) that each person is a sovereign ruler in a true democracy is finding contemporary expression in the United States. While the U.S. government is imposing its imperialist aggression from Gaza to Venezuela, its citizens have taken to the streets in a renewed wave of protest against the Trump administration. This anger culminated on October 19, when the "No Kings" movement organised one of the largest demonstrations in recent American history, drawing more than 70 lakh participants across the United States.
The protests, spanning 2,700 locations across all 50 states including major cities like Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, etc., were organised by a coalition of ordinary citizens. The "No Kings" movement stands in opposition to all coercive and authoritarian rulers, upholding instead, the principles of direct democracy and mutual aid. Even The New York Times reported on the protests, noting, "The vibe in most places was irreverent but peaceful and family-friendly. The purpose, however, was focused. Each crowd, everywhere, shared the same mantra: No Kings." The message was clear, 'America will not have a king.'
This is not the first time such strong anti-Trump protests have occurred. The first "No King's Day" was held on June 14, this year, strategically timed to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., that celebrated both the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s birthday. Organisers used the moment to protest what they saw as a dangerous spectacle of militarism and the consolidation of power. The recent October protest was a direct continuation of that earlier action, with slogans like "No Kings," "Down with the autocrat," and "Save the Constitution" echoing once again across the country.
The October 18 event, dubbed “No Kings II,” was promoted as the second large scale protest under that banner. It continues the same themes - demanding democratic accountability, protecting civil liberties, opposing the abuse of power, and resisting what supporters describe as "creeping authoritarianism." This growing movement is undoubtedly a source of significant discomfort for the Trump administration.
The resonance of this struggle was powerfully articulated by Senator Bernie Sanders, who, while speaking at the protest, compared their movement to the American Revolution of 1776. He reminded the crowd that the people once had to fight the most powerful military on earth to free themselves from the rule of a king.
Growing Fury Against Trump Erupts
Public anger against Donald Trump has boiled over into massive nationwide protests. While the year began with demonstrations targeting former Trump ally Elon Musk for his mass layoffs and was followed by protests in June, the recent Saturday rally has dwarfed them all, with organisers claiming it to be the largest yet.
Millions have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to a range of grievances, like the Trump administration's undemocratic conduct, the deployment of troops in multiple cities, anti-immigration raids, the erosion of union rights, constitutional violations, the planned layoff of nearly 200,000 government employees, and relentless attacks on free speech. The protests are being led by a coalition of left parties, labour organisations and citizen platforms.
Crackdowns and Immigration Raids Fuel the Fire
The profound irony of Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies lies in their stark contrast to his own family history. As the son of an immigrant and the husband of naturalized citizen, Trump's legacy is paradoxically rooted in the very immigrant journeys his administration sought to obstruct. His policies, however, were defined by a calculated cruelty that critics widely condemned as inhumane, most infamously the "zero-tolerance" policy that forcibly separated thousands of migrant children from their parents, leaving them detained in cage-like conditions. This was compounded by the Muslim travel ban, the drastic reduction of refugee admissions, and the expansion of detention camps, which collectively painted a picture of a nation hostile to those seeking refuge or a better life. This approach represented a profound betrayal of the American immigrant narrative, one that his own family directly benefited from, revealing a disconnect that framed his policies not as pragmatic governance, but as a targeted assault on the most vulnerable.
A key trigger for the public outrage has been the administration's controversial deployment of federal forces to cities like Los Angeles and Chicago in recent months, a move widely criticised as illegal and an attempt to forcibly suppress democratic dissent. Furthermore, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted aggressive raids in non-white neighborhoods, and the sight of protesters from these very cities added a potent personal dimension to the national rally.
Workers and Teachers Join the Fray
The "No Kings" protest saw a significant turnout from trade unions. Front and center was the American Federation of Teachers, a powerful educators' union. This participation is hardly surprising, given that President Trump announced his intention to dismantle the Department of Education shortly after taking office. He accused "leftists" of using the department to exert undue influence over schools, colleges and universities by controlling curricula. The same rhetoric was used by the Sanghi leaders here in India. The decision to cut federal funding to all educational institutions has directly led to a decrease in teacher salaries and it led to wide-spread protest.
We also remember the wide spread protests in US universities against the Gaza genocide despite police repression and threats from the Trump administration.
Dissent Spreads Beyond the Cities
The protests also saw a massive presence of organized government employees. Young people, women, and members of the LGBTQIA community participated spontaneously. The movement was not confined to urban centres; it found strong resonance in rural and agricultural regions as well. US agriculture, facing instability due to the economic policies of the Trump administration, has become a hotbed of discontent. Despite farmers and rural voters being among Trump's most loyal supporters during his campaign, his administration has now signaled a move to cut government subsidies, prompting them to join the protests.
A Pattern of Authoritarian Tactics
Since assuming power, Donald Trump and his administration have aggressively moved to undermine opposing political parties, state governments, municipal authorities and autonomous institutions. Under the guise of cracking down on "illegal infiltrators," ICE officers have acted like bullies in many cities. Long-term immigrant workers, who have been in the U.S. for decades, are suddenly being deported. The administration has engaged in blatant cronyism, appointing loyalists to key posts, and the White House has deployed federal troops to cities and states governed by its political opponents.
A Government in Gridlock
In the name of cutting excess costs, the administration has begun laying off thousands of government workers. Paradoxically, millions of dollars have been allocated for the renovation and beautification of Trump's private residences. Meanwhile, the administration's proposed budget failed to secure majority support in the U.S. Senate, leading to a political deadlock and a full government shutdown. This has halted the salaries of nearly two million government employees, led to the cancellation of various social programs, and resulted in the dismantling of departments dedicated to education, healthcare, and climate change.
Administration Pushes Back
In response, top administration officials and Republican leaders have launched fierce attacks on the protesters, accusing the opposition of using the shutdown as a weapon to create anarchy. However, the American public tells a different story. From their perspective, the people are enraged by the Trump administration's high-handed tactics, profoundly undemocratic attitude, and erratic behavior. Trump, who campaigned on grandiose promises to fix the economic crisis, has failed to deliver. Instead, his "revolutionary" tariff policies have triggered supply chain issues and caused the prices of essential goods to skyrocket.
The Far-Right's Reaction
In their efforts to stir up panic over Saturday's protests, Trump's supporters are resorting to a classic far-right strategy: exploiting America's deep-seated fear of communism. Also, they are labeling the protesters as "pro-Hamas" and "America haters," while a former Trump administration official accused all demonstrators of being "left-wing terrorists."
Far right Senator Ted Cruz took to social media to baselessly claim that the "No Kings" protests were organized by the Communist Party of USA. He further alleged that opposition leaders are speaking at these rallies to appease the radical left and are exploiting the prospect of a government shutdown for political gain. It seems the old fear of the left still haunts them.
Republican leaders responded in various ugly ways, sharing a slew of disturbing AI-generated images. The most egregious was shared by Trump himself: a picture of a fighter jet piloted by a crown-wearing Trump, depicted as bombing the "No Kings" protesters with what appeared to be massive amounts of excrement.
Modi and Trump: Birds of a feather
There is an uncanny resemblance between the political projects of Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, as the Indian Prime Minister appears to have adopted a playbook strikingly similar to the one pioneered by the U.S. President. Both are quintessential figures of the contemporary ultra-right, leveraging a potent mix of ethno-religious nationalism and hatred. Their ideologies are fundamentally rooted in a fascism - for Trump, it's a white-centric "America First" nativism, while for Modi, it's a "Hindutva" nationalism - which systematically frames religious minorities, particularly Muslims, as internal threats and invaders. This shared Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric, painting migrants and minorities as criminals corroding the nation's cultural and social fabric, serves as a central pillar for their political agenda. Furthermore, their regimes operate in a similar schism: their policies are aggressively pro-corporate, favouring big business and dismantling workers and trade union rights. This is compounded by a profound assault on democratic institutions, including the press and judiciary, and the deliberate erosion of public services like health and education. Ultimately, both leaders exemplify a modern authoritarian playbook where democracy is hollowed out from within, replaced by a divisive, personality-driven politics that thrives on perpetual cultural warfare.
Emerging alternative
A vibrant and hopeful alternative to Trumpism is gaining ground. This movement is led by a new generation of politicians who are turning protest into real power and redefining what's politically possible.
At the forefront are dynamic figures like New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who embodies this shift through action, not just words. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, and colleagues like State Senator Jabari Brisport and Congresswoman Summer Lee, go beyond simply opposing the far right. Their approach is transformative. Mamdani doesn't just make speeches; he uses his position to organize tenants to confront negligent landlords, directly challenging housing injustice. He has proposed a series of bold reforms focused on redistributing wealth and expanding the public sector. These include fare-free buses, city owned grocery stores, free childcare, and a major expansion of publicly funded affordable housing - all issues that address the urgent needs of New York’s working class. His campaign used savvy and engaging social media to talk about these material issues and his proposed solutions in an upbeat, accessible way. This new political breed understands that struggles are interconnected, from the streets of Queens to Gaza. They have fought for a "Housing Guarantee" while also pushing to divest public funds from Israel's military. In doing so, they prove that a politics of bold, moral clarity can win elections and deliver real victories for the working class.
Their success is a powerful antidote to despair, showing that a multiracial, socialist minded movement is not a distant dream, but an emerging force.
