Polling this month has shown that President Trump’s approval ratings are at an all-time low, ranging from the mid 30s to the low 40s.
American dissatisfaction took to the streets Saturday, with more than three thousand No Kings rallies across the country and the globe.
Two grassroots organizations, 50501 and Indivisible, worked together to organize the rallies across the country. They estimate that as many as eight million people participated. In Abilene, organizers say around 300 people showed up this time, more than the last two No Kings Rallies. Frustration is growing even in solidly Republican regions like West Texas.
During the October rally, several Trump supporters stood across the street from the City Hall in opposition to the No King’s message. This time, there was no opposing crowd.
Charles Nall held a sign reading, “No war, no tariffs, follow the constitution.” He describes himself as an independent voter, and says he actually voted for Trump in 2016.
“I watch politics every day, and I see what he’s doing. I mean, it’s the authoritarian playbook. Step one, two, three, and he’s probably on two and a half,” Null said. “And I’m just, you know, I’m tired of it. We’ve got grandkids. I’m concerned about the future of the Earth. I’m concerned about the future of the United States of America.”
The demonstrators were motivated by a wide range of complaints, from the war in Iran to the Epstein files, immigration, and inflation.
Diana Luna, who is running for Texas House District 71, said she supports the No Kings Day movement because it gives people a chance to express their First Amendment right to protest. She said she doesn’t agree with any of the policies Trump has implemented to try to help the economy.
“All they’ve done is make billionaires richer, and working-class people, our groceries are still going up. Our gas prices are going up now in Abilene,” Luna said.
The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has put a standstill on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that handles about 20% of the world's oil supply. As a result, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has increased by about a dollar.
Samuel Garcia, chair of the Taylor County Democratic Party, set up a table with a sign asking: “What is something you do that a billionaire wouldn’t understand?”
“They don’t understand what we do every single day as regular Americans, who suffer with our budgets,” Garcia said.
Garcia said people’s answers to his question serve as a reminder to him of why he is passionate about working in politics.
“Elections matter! Yes, I am a political animal, and I have been my whole life. I love politics, I really do, but why? Because I know it makes a difference in your everyday lives,” Garcia said.
Through the whole rally, speakers emphasized the importance of voting and influencing others to make change happen.
Linda Goolsbee came to the rally as a Taylor County volunteer deputy registrar to help attendees go through the steps of registering to vote.
“I am here because I am really concerned about the fact that all of a sudden we have a very non-constitutional semi-monarchy going on,” Goolsbee said. “It’s important to me that our democracy survives. That’s the big statement. The place where we are right now, we are a democracy, people can vote and change things.”
Protestors held signs reading “Keep Families Together” and “For my father who came with nothing to give me everything” in retaliation to ICE raids and detentions.
As of March 2026, 13 deaths in ICE detention have been reported this year.
Rally attendee, Billy Keith, says he’s not usually the type to go to protests, but felt that it was time he used his voice to make a difference.
“Everybody wants all the criminals gone. They want the criminals sent away, put behind bars, but folks that are over here, to try and earn a living, to do better for themselves and their families, leave those people alone. Let them work. They’re not hurting anybody,” Keith said.
For the protestors and speakers at the rally, accountability and justice go beyond getting Donald Trump out of office. They also want to see government officials involved in the Epstein Files be held accountable for their criminal activity.
Chellby Taylor spoke to the crowd about the impact that the lack of accountability has on human trafficking survivors like herself.
“Now imagine for a moment that you’re a sexual assault survivor, or a victim of the current president of the United States of America,” Taylor said. “Can you imagine what it must feel like to watch him give the State of the Union address, ramble on for hours on a global stage, while we sit here privately, reliving each moment of our assault?”
In October of 2025, President Trump called the No King’s protests “a joke” and said that the protestors were not representative of the whole country. Ahead of Saturday’s nationwide rallies, the White House called them “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions”.
For protestors, the day of action gave them the chance to join with millions of other Americans to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights to gather and to speak, delivering the overarching ‘No Kings’ message that Nobody is above the law.