Despite Republican efforts to ridicule the ‘No Kings’ protests as un-American and nonsensical, a striking new poll indicates that a majority of Americans sympathize with the core message opposing presidential overreach.
Over the past few days, Republicans have actively marginalized the widespread ‘No Kings’ rallies that took place across the United States over the weekend. They labeled participants as extremists, predicted violence that did not occur, and claimed the protesters hate America. President Donald Trump himself stated that the demonstrators were ‘not representative of this country,’ while his team circulated mocking memes and AI-generated videos, including one where Trump dumps waste on protesters.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reinforced this stance on Fox News, asserting that the protesters’ messages were ‘completely the opposite of what America was founded upon.’ However, a new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute, released on October 22, 2025, challenges this narrative by showing that the essence of the ‘No Kings’ message resonates deeply with much of the American public.
The poll presented respondents with a binary choice: whether Trump is a ‘potentially dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys democracy’ or a ‘strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.’ A significant 56% of Americans chose the ‘dictator’ option, compared to 41% for the ‘strong leader’ view. This margin has nearly doubled since April, when the split was 52% to 44%.
Additionally, 54% of respondents agreed that Trump is waging an ‘assault on constitutional balances and the rule of law,’ versus 43% who saw his actions as a ‘long-overdue correction.’ The strength of these views is notable, with 45% strongly agreeing he is a dangerous dictator and 43% strongly agreeing about the assault on checks and balances. Nearly half of independents held these strong convictions, underscoring the breadth of concern.
This poll is not an outlier; it aligns with multiple other surveys. A July CNN poll found 56% believing Trump had gone ‘too far’ in using presidential power, up from 52% in February. Similarly, an April AP-NORC poll showed 57% thought he exceeded his authority, and a September Washington Post-Ipsos poll indicated 62% felt he had gone beyond his powers as president, including nearly one in five Republicans.
Conservatives have argued that the ‘No Kings’ label is illogical, pointing out that Trump was democratically elected in 2024 and some policies have congressional approval. Meghan McCain questioned how Trump could be a king when he won the popular vote and electoral college, while Brit Hume sarcastically noted ‘Some King’ in reference to congressional cooperation. Yet, these rebuttals overlook the protesters’ focus on unchecked power rather than literal monarchy.
Nevertheless, the data suggests that a majority of Americans perceive Trump’s actions as extraordinary and threatening to democratic norms. Comparisons to past presidents like Biden and Obama show higher levels of concern specifically for Trump, with an AP-NORC poll noting a jump from 32% to 54% in those who believe a president has ‘too much’ power under his administration.
The growing public apprehension underscores that the ‘No Kings’ rallies tap into genuine fears about the erosion of constitutional safeguards. As these sentiments intensify, they highlight a deepening divide in American politics and raise critical questions about the future of presidential authority and democratic integrity in the United States.