Colbert Marvels at Massive 'No Kings' Rallies Worldwide

Late night host highlights widespread protests against the Trump administration

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:35am

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On Monday's 'Late Show,' Stephen Colbert marveled at footage from the massive 'No Kings' rallies and demonstrations that took place across the United States and Europe on Saturday. Colbert joked about the large crowds, comparing the New York march to the TSA line at JFK Airport, and noted that the protests were the largest single-day demonstrations in the U.S. since the first Earth Day in 1970.

Why it matters

The widespread 'No Kings' protests reflect the continued public opposition to the Trump administration and its policies, even years after Trump left office. The large turnout shows the enduring impact of the Trump presidency and the desire among many Americans for a more democratic system of government.

The details

Colbert highlighted footage from 'No Kings' marches in cities across the U.S., including New York, Chicago, San Diego, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston. He joked that the Boston march could have been 'the Annual Wahlberg Family Palm Sunday Punch 'n Munch' instead. Colbert also noted that the protests extended to Europe, with a large march taking place in London as well.

  • The 'No Kings' rallies took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • Colbert discussed the protests on his show on Monday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Stephen Colbert

The host of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on CBS, who highlighted the 'No Kings' protests on his program.

Bill Maher

The host of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' on HBO, who made jokes about the long TSA lines at airports.

Jimmy Fallon

The host of 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' on NBC, who featured a comedy sketch with actor Jon Hamm.

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What they’re saying

“Just look at the crowd we got here in New York. Oop, that's the T.S.A. line at J.F.K.”

— Stephen Colbert, Host, 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'

“It's easier to get through the Strait of Hormuz than the airport these days.”

— Bill Maher, Host, 'Real Time with Bill Maher'

“So, the latest Plan A Trump had this week was to send ICE to the airport. OK, forgetting that ICE does not perform any sort of task that would be alleviating the actual problem there, so it's just more people standing around. Plan B was to send to every airport 100 raccoons.”

— Bill Maher, Host, 'Real Time with Bill Maher'

The takeaway

The massive 'No Kings' protests demonstrate the enduring impact of the Trump presidency and the desire among many Americans for a more democratic system of government. The widespread demonstrations, both in the U.S. and abroad, reflect the continued public opposition to the Trump administration's policies and actions.