For the second year in a row, President Donald Trump is seeing a “No Kings” protest on his birthday. However, this year will look different.
The next event will host a “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment,” a live program to counter Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations and a UFC event on the White House South Lawn.
“We can let strongman politics and corruption define the moment. Or we can make the story of America about people coming together — across race, background, identity, belief, and community — to defend our rights and build a future rooted in people power,” the official “No Kings” website states.
The 90-minute event, co‑presented with the Committee for the First Amendment, will be star-studded and available to stream at the same time as the UFC fight. Watch parties will be hosted across the state, including some in Florida.
What does ‘No Kings’ mean?
The name “No Kings” comes from protest organizers’ belief that Trump is acting like a monarch rather than a democratic leader, according to The 50501 Movement.
“No Kings” is a progressive grassroots initiative formed on Reddit under the hashtag #50501 in the early days of Trump’s second inauguration. It stands for 50 protests in 50 states on 1 day, which has since evolved to 50 states, 50 protests, and one movement.
“Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger. 50501 activists came up with the rallying cry ‘No Kings’, but it is more than just a slogan — it is the foundation our nation was built upon,” the website states. “Born in the streets, shouted by millions, carried on posters and chants, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.”
It first started in June 2025, with more than 5 million people taking to the streets at more than 2,100 events, according to the organization. The protest occurred on Trump’s 79th birthday and sought to counteract the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade, which organizers said was held to “feed his ego.”
Since then, there have been two other major nationwide protests — one in October 2025 and one in March 2026.
Are there ‘No Kings’ protests this year?
Instead of the usual protests, this year’s “No Kings” event will be the “Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment” livestream. Held in New York City, it will feature stars, including Bette Midler, Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts and Rufus Wainwright.
Organizers said that watch parties are scheduled across the country to stream the event, giving communities space “to sing along, make art, share food, connect with neighbors, and take meaningful action together.”
“Featuring an all-star line-up of performers, this 90-minute concert event will celebrate the freedoms guaranteed by our First Amendment — of speech, religion, press, assembly, and protest — and the people power that both fuels these rights and is essential to guarantee them,” the event website says.
Where are the Florida watch parties?
See photos of previous ‘No Kings’ protests in Florida
How to watch ‘No Kings’ June 14th livestream
The “Rise Up, Sing Out” concert will go live on its official website on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ‘No Kings’ has plans for Trump’s birthday but they aren’t street protests
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
