Copyright Newsweek
Chinese netizens have been reacting to the “No Kings” rallies held across the United States in opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies. More than 2,600 demonstrations took place on Saturday, drawing nearly 7 million participants, according to organizers—even larger than the coast-to-coast “No Kings” protests that took place in June. Solidarity events were also held in more than a dozen other countries. Why It Matters Social unrest in the U.S. frequently trends in China, where protests against the leadership—when they occur—are swiftly quashed. Government and state-aligned voices often frame the American model as chaotic, contrasting it with the tightly controlled political and social system maintained by the Chinese Communist Party. Trump is also a popular topic in China as tensions persist over trade, Taiwan, and technology. Some Chinese netizens have suggested that his policies may unintentionally help accelerate China’s rise as the United States’ primary global competitor. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the White House by email with requests for comment outside of office hours. What To Know Scenes of massive crowds at “No Kings” rallies in major U.S. cities drew a mix of reactions on Chinese social media. “[Trump] is not a king. He is a businessman,” one person wrote on the microblogging platform Weibo. Some pointed to the protests as a sign of the U.S. president's failed policies. "Trump is fooling around at home—first using the military to interfere in state administrations, and then imposing tariffs on major countries, triggering countermeasures from major powers,” wrote one political commentary account. Others appeared to revel in the unrest. “Maybe it’s time to split into the Republican States of America and the Democratic States of America, like post-WWII Germany,” one person said. “Yeah, they love interfering in other countries’ business. I think they’d really like that,” another responded. Also widely discussed was a 19-second AI-generated video that Trump posted to his Truth Social account. It depicted the president wearing a crown, piloting a fighter jet, and dropping excrement on protesters below. "Hahaha, an 80-year-old child," one netizen said. “American political spectacle!” wrote Hu Xijin, a former editor of the nationalist state-run Global Times, whose Weibo account has nearly 25 million followers. The demonstrations came amid mounting criticism over the administration’s intensifying crackdown on immigration—including militarized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have swept up U.S. citizens—alleged human rights abuses at ICE detention facilities, and National Guard deployments in cities including Los Angeles and Chicago. Republican Party leaders including House Speaker Mike Johnson characterized the protests as “hate-America rallies.” Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota accused Democrats of giving in to what he called the “terrorist wing of their party.” No major incidents of violence were reported during the nationwide demonstrations. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview on Friday: “They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king.” The "No Kings" website says: “Trump is doubling down—sending militarized agents into our communities, silencing voters, and handing billionaires giveaways while families struggle. This isn’t just politics. It’s democracy versus dictatorship. And together, we’re choosing democracy.” What’s Next The demonstrations came during a government shutdown, now on its 20th day. Trump and his allies have blamed Democrats for the impasse, who have refused to back down until GOP leaders agree to extend expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that would leave millions of Americans without health coverage. Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Seoul, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1.
