Protesters Accused of 'Inane Puppetry' at 'No Kings' Rallies

Commentator argues the rallies are 'pure performative theater' divorced from reality

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:50pm

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A Fox News opinion columnist argues that the 'No Kings' protests against former President Donald Trump are nothing more than 'inane puppetry' and 'pure performative theater' that are divorced from reality. The columnist criticizes the rhetoric and theatrics of the protests, claiming the central claim that Trump ruled like a 'king' is 'absurd on its face'.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' protests have gained national attention and aim to galvanize the Democratic base, even as the columnist dismisses them as meaningless political theater. The commentary highlights the ongoing partisan divide and clashing narratives around Trump's presidency.

The details

The columnist, David Marcus, takes issue with the 'No Kings' protesters, arguing they are like annoying 'puppeteers' who demand to be taken seriously. He says the very name of the protests is 'a farcical facade' because Trump was not an actual king and was constrained by Congress and the courts. Marcus criticizes remarks made by celebrities like Robert De Niro and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at the protests, calling them 'insane bloviations'. He also mocks the use of inflatable frog costumes at the rallies, saying they represent a 'petulant' refusal to fully fund immigration enforcement.

  • The 'No Kings' protests take place every few months across the country.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who the 'No Kings' protesters claim ruled like a 'king', a characterization the columnist rejects as 'absurd'.

Robert De Niro

A Hollywood actor who spoke at a 'No Kings Day' protest in New York, making what the columnist calls 'insane bloviations'.

Ilhan Omar

A Congresswoman from Minnesota who spoke at a 'No Kings Day' protest, making what the columnist calls an 'oddball take'.

Tim Walz

The Governor of Minnesota who the columnist says 'chose to center' Somali Minnesotans in his remarks at a 'No Kings Day' protest.

Sheridan Gorman

A Loyola University student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, which the columnist says is a consequence of Democrats and the Left 'acting like petulant children and refusing to fully fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement'.

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What they’re saying

“He can't do all the f---ed-up things that he's been doing without the collusion of Congress and the goons in his administration.”

— Robert De Niro

“I could have never imagined the day would come when we were staring down at this kind of creeping authoritarianism.”

— Ilhan Omar, Congresswoman

“we'll never leave the side of Somali Minnesotans…your great-grandchildren will be here when that orange clown is in the dustbin of history.”

— Tim Walz, Minnesota Governor

The takeaway

This commentary highlights the ongoing partisan divide and clashing narratives around Trump's presidency, with the columnist dismissing the 'No Kings' protests as meaningless political theater while the protesters view Trump's actions as authoritarian. The debate over the nature of Trump's presidency and the appropriate response continues to be a source of heated political conflict.