Republican governors in several US states have placed National Guard troops on standby in anticipation of a nationwide protest targeting Donald Trump and his policies.
The organizers of the No Kings protests have planned gatherings at over 2,500 locations throughout the nation. Trump allies have linked the protesters to the far-left Antifa movement.
States like Texas and Virginia have already activated their National Guard, but the extent of their military presence remains unclear.
Last June, a previous No Kings protest saw more than five million participants denounce Trump’s political agenda.
The protest's goal is to confront Trump’s authoritarianism. The organizers assert on their website that, the president thinks his rule is absolute, but in America, we don't have kings and we won't back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Some Republicans have dismissed the demonstrations as Hate America rallies.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall commented on the necessity of National Guard intervention, expressing concerns about the peaceful nature of the rallies.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the activation of the National Guard for security during a scheduled protest in Austin, attributing it to the anticipated antifa-linked demonstration. This action has been criticized by state Democrats, including Gene Wu, who described the deployment of armed forces to suppress peaceful protests as reminiscent of tactics employed by kings and dictators.
Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has also ordered state National Guard mobilization ahead of the upcoming protests.
