Some dressed up to bring attention to their message. Mixed in with effigies of Trump in baby form were people in costumes, including Gritty, Winnie the Pooh and SpongeBob.
‘’No Kings’’ protesters gather at Philadelphia City Hall on Oct. 18, 2025. (Maria Pulcinella/WHYY)
The GOP is branding the “No Kings” protests as un-American, with House Speaker Mike Johnson recently calling the demonstration planned for Washington, D.C., a “hate America rally.”
During an interview this week with Fox Business, Trump told host Maria Bartiromo that his detractors are off base.
“They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” he said.
From a stage located near the Liberty Bell Pavilion, elected officials pushed back on both claims to big applause.
“We say to Speaker Johnson: Stop slandering our joyful, nonviolent democracy movement. And stop projecting your shame and guilt on us,” said U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., to the crowd, which stretched from the stage near Chestnut Street to the National Constitution Center near Arch Street.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia, railed against the government shutdown and Trump’s domestic policy agenda.
“Apparently, if you think one person shouldn’t have all of the power, if you think delivering health care to those who need it, if you think that billionaires should pay their fair share, apparently if you think those things, as I do, somehow you hate America,” Boyle said.
“I have a word to describe that: bull****.”
‘’No Kings’’ protesters gather at Philadelphia City Hall on Oct. 18, 2025. (Maria Pulcinella/WHYY)
The protest wrapped up around 3 p.m. after a speaker program that included union officials and grassroots organizers.
Organizers said this will not be the last “No Kings” demonstration in Philadelphia. Vicki Miller, group leader with Indivisible Philadelphia, said she expects the campaign to only increase in size, strength and overall impact.
“We know that research shows that when people come together to visibly show that they’re protesting, that they’re resisting, they will not cooperate with the regime in power, that is effective and it works eventually,” Miller said.
