Nationwide 'No Kings' Protest Breaks Records Under Trump

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell analyzes the historic scale and significance of the anti-Trump demonstrations.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:53pm

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A vibrant, fractured painting depicting a large crowd of protesters marching in the streets, with overlapping geometric shapes and waves of bright red, orange, and yellow colors conveying the energy and momentum of the demonstrations.The historic 'No Kings' protests against former President Trump drew record crowds, reflecting the deep divisions and opposition he generated during his presidency.Staten Island Today

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell discussed the record-breaking 'No Kings' protests against former President Donald Trump, noting that it was the first time in American history that a president himself became the target of a nationwide demonstration. O'Donnell highlighted the story of an 85-year-old protester named David Podoff, who had planned to get arrested at the Lexington, Massachusetts protest site before passing away shortly after. The host also played a clip of a former Trump supporter from Staten Island who felt 'betrayed' by the president's actions.

Why it matters

The 'No Kings' protests represent a significant shift in American politics, with a sitting president becoming the direct target of mass demonstrations rather than just his policies. This reflects the deep divisions and opposition Trump generated during his presidency, even among some of his former supporters.

The details

O'Donnell explained that the 'No Kings' protests were specifically about opposing Trump himself, rather than just his policies. He noted that even during the Vietnam War, protesters were objecting to the war itself rather than directly targeting President Richard Nixon. However, the protests against Trump were focused on the president as an individual, which O'Donnell said had 'never happened before' in American history.

  • The 'No Kings' protests took place on Saturday.
  • David Podoff, an 85-year-old protester, passed away two weeks after planning to get arrested at the Lexington, Massachusetts protest site.

The players

Lawrence O'Donnell

The host of MSNBC's 'The Last Word' program, who analyzed the significance of the 'No Kings' protests against former President Donald Trump.

David Podoff

An 85-year-old former board member of the Social Security Administration, who had planned to get arrested at the 'No Kings' protest in Lexington, Massachusetts as an act of defiance against Trump, but passed away shortly after.

Giuseppe Palazzolo

A former Trump supporter from Staten Island, New York who felt 'betrayed' by the president's actions, particularly his 'illegal war' in Iran.

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What they’re saying

“If Donald Trump had ended his war in Iran the week before, all of the same people still would have turned out for the 'No Kings' protest. They were protesting Donald Trump himself, the first person in American history to earn a nationwide protest against him.”

— Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC Host

“I believed in him. I thought he would end wars like he said in his campaign. He said he wouldn't start wars. Say he'd bring peace to the Middle East. Now look at us. We're knee deep in an illegal war. He hasn't found the congressional approval. Now we're further from peace and closer to catastrophe than ever before. I feel so betrayed.”

— Giuseppe Palazzolo, Former Trump Supporter

What’s next

The protests against Trump are expected to continue, as the former president remains a divisive and polarizing figure in American politics.

The takeaway

The 'No Kings' protests represent a historic shift in American politics, with a sitting president becoming the direct target of mass demonstrations rather than just his policies. This reflects the deep divisions and opposition Trump generated during his presidency, even among some of his former supporters.