National Guard activated ahead of No Kings protests planned across US

October 18, 2025

Republican governors in several US states have placed National Guard troops on standby in response to planned nationwide "No Kings" protests opposing Donald Trump and his policies. Governors in Texas and Virginia have specifically activated their National Guard units ahead of protests that organizers claim will occur at more than 2,500 locations across the country. While protest organizers say these demonstrations challenge Trump's "authoritarianism" and follow a June event that allegedly drew five million participants, Republican figures have characterized the protests as "Hate America" rallies and accused participants of being aligned with far-left Antifa.

Who is affected

Protesters participating in the "No Kings" demonstrations
Residents in areas where protests and potential National Guard deployments will occur
State National Guard troops in Texas and Virginia who have been activated
Local communities at the reported 2,500+ protest locations

What action is being taken

Republican governors in several states are placing National Guard troops on standby
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin have specifically activated their state's National Guard
Organizers are planning "No Kings" protests at over 2,500 locations nationwide
Democrats are publicly denouncing the National Guard activations

Why it matters

The military response to planned protests raises questions about appropriate government reaction to demonstrations
The situation reflects deep political divisions in how protests are characterized (legitimate political expression versus "Hate America" rallies)
The deployment of National Guard troops may affect how the protests unfold and public perception of the events
The controversy highlights tensions around perceptions of authoritarianism, with both sides accusing the other of authoritarian tendencies

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC