President Donald Trump certainly has his share of rabid supporters, but, if you didn’t know, he also has a critic or two.
Or millions and millions.
Those who are angry with the administration and who oppose actions Trump has taken in his second term are gearing up to show their displeasure in a local and nationwide “No Kings” protest that will take place in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Lexington and other parts of the state on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Trump has been calling it the “Hate America Rally.”
Trump supporters point to the president’s successes such as the closure of the border with Mexico, the progress of peace in the Middle East and the return of the hostages, the continuation of lower tax rates, the lowering of gas prices and massive cuts in government jobs that they argue have created a leaner and more efficient government.
Trump’s critics, on the other hand, rail against masked immigration officers arresting people and sending them to foreign prisons with no due process, and Trump’s efforts to quell the free speech of late-night comedians, news outlets and others by using the levers of government – such as regulatory threats and the pulling of broadcast licenses. They’re also critical of Trump’s use of the US Justice Department to go after his political enemies and the tariff policies that have hurt American farmers and other industries. Another Trump administration policy that critics oppose is the killing of people on small boats in international waters without providing them any chance to surrender or prove their innocence and without offering any evidence to support claims that those on the bombed boats are drug smugglers or human traffickers. Many of Trump’s critics argue that these actions are outright murder on the high seas.
Trump’s supporters say that the people who come out Saturday and protest suffer from an ailment called “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and they say critics don’t understand that, while Trump’s actions are certainly unconventional at times, he is “playing 4-dimensional chess while everyone else is playing checkers.”
They argue that Trump could cure cancer and he would get criticized for it.
In Greensboro, on Saturday, there will be two protests – the main one from noon to 2 p.m. at the governmental plaza in downtown Greensboro next to the Guilford County Courthouse at 201 S. Eugene St.
Another No Kings event on Saturday in Greensboro will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4203 W Wendover Ave. – the intersection of Meadowood Street and West Wendover.
Since the last nationwide No Kings protest held in June, even some of the strongest MAGA supporters have been critical of Trump. Some of the things that have caused fissures in MAGA world are the president’s fight to keep the Epstein files from being released, his pledging of US military backing to Qatar if that nation is attacked, and his $20-billion bailout of Argentina while the US government is shut down, US debt is skyrocketing and American soybean farmers are losing their farms due to the president’s tariff policies.
The official message from the No Kings organizers reads as follows:
“Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. ‘NO KINGS’ is more than just a slogan – it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.
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. Grow our movement and join us.
A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”
There will also be No Kings events held in Stokes County and many other locations across the state.
There will even be a virtual protest originating in Lexington.
Organizers state: “In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.”
