Actor John Cusack delivered a blunt message to President Donald Trump at a ‘No Kings’ protest in Chicago, telling him to ‘go to hell’ over the deployment of federal agents to the city. His comments, made in a CNN interview, highlighted broader concerns about authoritarianism and civil rights, drawing attention to nationwide demonstrations against the administration’s policies.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, Cusack joined thousands of protesters in Chicago for the ‘No Kings’ rally, a massive event part of a coordinated movement across the United States. Speaking to CNN reporter Whitney Wild, the 59-year-old actor expressed outrage at Trump’s use of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, whom he labeled ‘masked goons’ for their tactics in abducting and harassing individuals. Cusack, a longtime Chicago resident, emphasized that the city’s message to the president was unequivocal: ‘Go to hell!’ He argued that Trump’s actions were designed to create chaos and invoke the Insurrection Act, allowing him to deploy National Guard troops and maintain power.
Cusack directly challenged Trump’s understanding of Chicago, pointing to its historical significance in labor rights movements worldwide. ‘What’s interesting is that he doesn’t understand that all the labor rights around the world came from this town, this place,’ Cusack stated, asserting that the city would never become a ‘fascist hub.’ He accused the president of employing authoritarian strategies to divide communities, creating an ‘other’ to justify repression and theft of resources. This, he warned, was a familiar pattern from history, aimed at consolidating power through fear and division.
The ‘No Kings’ protests, organized by a coalition of civil rights and advocacy groups including Indivisible, saw millions of participants in over 2,500 locations nationwide and abroad. Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, described the demonstrations as a response to Trump’s ‘authoritarian power grabs,’ noting that ‘there is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power.’ The movement, which began in June with over 5 million attendees, has grown in scale, with organizers predicting even larger crowds for this iteration amid a government shutdown in its third week.
Political reactions to the protests have been polarized, with some Trump administration officials and Congressional Republicans dismissing them as ‘Hate America rallies’ and blaming Antifa for incitement. However, organizers insist the events are peaceful and rooted in democratic values, focusing on issues like reproductive rights, climate change, and opposition to Big Tech overreach. Harmeet Dhillon, the U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, mocked the protests on social media, while Trump himself claimed he was ‘not a king’ in remarks ahead of the marches.
Cusack’s activism extends beyond this event, as he has consistently used his platform to criticize Trump on social media, previously calling him an ‘idiot sociopath’ and a ‘deranged criminal Nazi.’ In his CNN interview, he also praised Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for resisting the administration’s moves, with Pritzker accusing Trump of inciting violence against federal agents. This local pushback underscores the tension between state and federal authorities over immigration enforcement and military deployments.
The protests occur against a backdrop of escalating political strife, including the ongoing government shutdown, which has fueled public frustration. Demonstrators are calling for an end to the stalemate and a rejection of what they perceive as authoritarian overreach, with implications for civil liberties and governance. The ‘No Kings’ movement reflects a broader societal push for accountability and transparency, resonating with concerns about democratic erosion and the rule of law.
As the demonstrations continue to gain momentum, they signal a potential shift in public sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with activists vowing to sustain pressure on the administration. Cusack’s high-profile involvement amplifies these messages, blending celebrity influence with grassroots organizing to challenge policies seen as threatening fundamental rights. The events highlight the enduring power of collective action in confronting perceived injustices and shaping the national political landscape.