The ‘No Kings’ Rallies: A Manufactured Spectacle of Media Hype, NGO Funding, and Political Theater
In the wake of yesterday’s “No Kings” rallies across the United States, we’re left with a stark contrast between the breathless pre-event promotion and the underwhelming reality on the ground.
In the wake of yesterday’s “
No Kings” rallies across the United States, we’re left with a stark contrast between the breathless pre-event promotion and the underwhelming reality on the ground. Organizers claimed millions would flood the streets in a nationwide uprising against President Trump’s administration, but eyewitness accounts—including my own from passing by two events with just 25-30 participants each—tell a different story. This isn’t just a case of optimistic forecasting; it’s a textbook example of coordinated media amplification, fueled by well-heeled NGOs, designed to project power amid an ongoing government shutdown. To understand the full picture, let’s compare this to genuine grassroots movements like the 2020 Lockdown Rallies and the Tea Party protests, both of which faced the opposite treatment: deliberate underreporting by the same media outlets now hyping “No Kings.”
The Pre-Promotion Blitz: A Symphony of Coordinated Coverage
Leading up to October 18, the “No Kings” events were blanketed in media attention that felt anything but organic. Major outlets like NPR, CNN, The Guardian, and even Fox News ran dozens of previews, echoing organizer claims of “millions” expected at over 2,500 events in nearly every state. Themes of defending democracy against “authoritarian excesses” were repeated verbatim, with interviews from spokespeople like those from Indivisible framing the protests as peaceful civic engagement. This wasn’t scattered reporting—it was a PR machine in action, with progressive nonprofits seeding stories to allied media while provoking critical coverage from conservative sources to ensure wall-to-wall visibility.1
Post-event, the hype continued with claims of 6-7 million attendees, but local reports and social media paint a picture of sparse crowds: thousands at best in major cities like Topeka (ironically, one of the larger turnouts, but their own pictures are tight framed shots2), but often just dozens in smaller locales. Some coverage reportedly recycled old footage from past protests to inflate visuals, a tactic that reeks of desperation. Why the overkill? Because this coordination isn’t about organic outrage—it’s about manufacturing consensus to pressure the Trump administration during the current government shutdown, which entered its third week yesterday.
Remember 2020: The Lockdown Rallies and Media’s Selective Blindness
Flash back to April 2020, when I helped organize Lockdown Rallies in Topeka against Governor Laura Kelly’s stay-at-home orders. We gridlocked the Capitol grounds with thousands of vehicles and protesters—cars honking, flags waving, a true outpouring of frustration from everyday Kansans hit by COVID restrictions. Yet, media reports downplayed it to “hundreds,” burying in-depth interviews and focusing on fringe elements to discredit the movement. Outlets like the Lawrence Journal-World and others framed it as a small, risky gathering, ignoring the massive turnout that clogged streets for hours.3 This wasn’t an accident; it was bias in action, minimizing conservative-led protests while amplifying those aligned with progressive causes.4
Contrast that with “No Kings,” where even modest crowds in Topeka were touted as “thousands” in headlines5, part of a national narrative of resistance. The difference? Funding and agenda. The 2020 rallies were bootstrapped by locals—no billionaire backers, no PR firms—just fed-up citizens organizing via social media. “No Kings,” on the other hand, benefits from a media ecosystem eager to boost anti-Trump stories, especially amid the shutdown where protesters demand concessions that align with Democratic priorities.
The Tea Party: True Grassroots vs. Astroturfing
This double standard isn’t new. Remember the Tea Party protests? Sparked by opposition to Obama-era bailouts and healthcare reforms, these were quintessential grassroots efforts: local organizers, homemade signs, and crowds swelling into the tens or hundreds of thousands at events like the September 12 march on Washington. Yet, media outlets grossly underreported attendance—ABC News pegged the D.C. rally at 60,000-70,000, while organizers and independent estimates suggested over a million nationwide. Coverage often dismissed participants as fringe or racist, downplaying the movement’s scale and legitimacy, even as it influenced the 2010 midterms.6
The Tea Party grew without dark money infusions; it was Americans rallying against big government. “No Kings,” by comparison, is astroturfed from the top down, with NGOs like Indivisible, MoveOn, the ACLU, and Reproductive Freedom for All handling logistics and promotion. At the heart of this? Billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Foundations7, which have funneled millions to these groups, including grants to Indivisible for anti-Trump organizing. Critics, including Senators Ted Cruz and Markwayne Mullin, have called out this funding as fueling “paid agitators” and even ties to foreign influences.
NGOs, USAID Cuts, and the Shutdown Nexus
These NGOs aren’t just protest organizers—they’re part of a broader ecosystem reliant on taxpayer dollars funneled through agencies like USAID. Under Trump’s first term and now in his second, the administration has slashed this “slush fund,” freezing foreign aid8, rescinding billions in wasteful spending, and effectively dissolving much of USAID’s operations. This included canceling 86% of USAID awards, targeting what the White House called “woke, weaponized, and wasteful” programs that critics argue served as money laundering for leftist causes.
Cut off from this gravy train, these NGOs are striking back. The “No Kings” protests dovetail perfectly with shutdown demands, where Democrats and unions9 are pushing for restored funding and concessions that would reopen the taps for international aid slush funds. Frustrated federal employees and activists are joining the rallies, framing the shutdown as Trump’s “authoritarianism,” but it’s really about reclaiming lost revenue streams. As Trump himself noted, Soros and his network are bankrolling this to sow chaos.
The Puppet Masters (the Real Wannabe Kings) Need to be Exposed
The “No Kings” rallies aren’t a spontaneous rebellion—they’re a funded operation to weaponize dissent against a president who’s draining the swamp of NGO largesse. Unlike the Lockdown and Tea Party movements, which thrived despite media sabotage, this is elite-driven theater. As Americans, we must demand transparency: Who really funds these groups? And why does the media play along? Tell me your thoughts on this. Who did you see protesting, and why do you think they were there?
*Disclaimer: Views expressed are based on public reports and personal experience.