Top Republicans Unravel Over Peaceful No Kings Protests

The president had an odd response to the Saturday "No Kings" protests. Alex Brandon/AP

Peaceful Protests Met With Bizarre Backlash

This past Saturday's "No Kings" protests were a picture of wholesome, peaceful demonstration. As chronicled by reporters, the events featured inflatable animals and a sea of American flags. Authorities confirmed the peaceful nature of the gatherings, with the New York Police Department noting no arrests among the 100,000 protesters. Police departments in Washington, DC and Austin, Texas reported similar calm. Despite this, top Republicans have reacted with a meltdown of epic proportions.

Trump's AI-Generated Social Media Attack

President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform with a particularly strange response. He posted a Top Gun-style AI video depicting himself in a crown, piloting a military plane and dropping raw sewage on the protesters below. One of the individuals seemingly targeted in the video was Gen Z Democratic influencer Harry Sisson. As of Sunday morning, the White House had not responded to requests for comment on the bizarre video.

The President of the United States has posted an AI video of himself unloading tons of raw sewage on American cities. One of the targets in the AI video is Harry Sisson. pic.twitter.com/wMTzGp3scY — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 19, 2025

Speaker Johnson Denounces 'Hate America' Rallies

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated his characterization of the protests as "hate America" rallies. During an appearance on ABC's This Week, Johnson claimed the protests, which took place in thousands of locations globally, featured "hateful messages" and "violent rhetoric" aimed at Trump. He went on to dismiss the entire movement as a "stunt" organized by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a claim organizers refute.

Official Accounts Join in Trolling Protesters

The strange reactions were not limited to individuals. Official government social media accounts also engaged in mocking the protest's theme. The White House posted an image of Trump and Vice President JD Vance in crowns. On Bluesky, Vance shared an AI video of a crowned Trump with a sword as Rep. Nancy Pelosi bows to him. In an even more bizarre move, the Department of Transportation's account posted illustrations of Democratic leaders as Disney princesses with the caption, "No Kings!!"

One protester in Oakland, Max Madame, summed up the sentiment of many regarding the Republican attacks, stating, "They’re delusional. We all know that… they know they’re lying, we know they’re lying."

Republicans have been calling the “No Kings” protests a “Hate America rally.” So, we asked protestors what they thought about it. Here are their responses. pic.twitter.com/DjS9FoEbWv — Mother Jones (@MotherJones) October 19, 2025