WATCH: 'No Kings' protesters at massive NYC rally reveal motivation for taking to the streets: 'Disgusting'

In the heart of New York City, thousands of protesters gathered in Times Square for a "No Kings" rally, denouncing President Trump as an authoritarian figure who is undermining democracy. With a sea of signs bearing slogans such as "No Fuhrers," "ICE Melts Faster Under Pressure," and "Fascist Government - Abetted by a Fascist Media," the protesters made it clear that they will not stand idly by while Trump consolidates power.

According to Ed, one of the rally-goers, history has shown us that when authoritarian leaders come to power, democracy is often the first casualty. He believes that if the US does not take action to stop Trump's actions now, they will be "halfway down a slippery slope" and facing serious consequences in the future.

Meanwhile, Nicole, who attended the rally as a cancer survivor fighting for her life and her husband's health insurance, shared her personal experience of feeling overwhelmed by the president's policies. She stated that it is "disgusting" to see the way Trump is treating vulnerable Americans, particularly immigrants and minorities.

Laura, another attendee from Seattle, expressed her frustration with the lack of collective action against Trump's policies. She believes that if people don't make their voices heard, they will give up and allow their rights to be stripped away. Her concern for her wife's marriage being threatened under Trump's presidency also resonated deeply with many.

As Fox News Digital witnessed a man placing an Antifa sticker on a street sign amidst the protesters, it became clear that some attendees were embracing the label as a badge of honor. However, others saw it as a necessary measure to counter the perceived fascist undertones in Trump's rhetoric.

Even Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the rally, delivering a speech that highlighted the need for collective action against authoritarianism. When asked about labeling Trump a "fascist," Laura was candid: "I mean, he's doing s--- that is outside of what our Constitution has said."

The "No Kings" movement, which first gained national attention in June, has now grown into a nationwide phenomenon, with protests taking place across major cities. Despite pushback from Trump and Republicans, the protesters remain undeterred, convinced that democracy is at stake and that their voices must be heard.

As for the president, he remains defiant, calling himself anything but a "king" and downplaying the significance of the rallies. The White House spokesperson's response to questions about potential National Guard deployment also suggested a lack of concern for the growing protests.

I'm really worried about what's going on in the US right now . It seems like people are getting pretty scared that Trump is going to take away their rights and freedoms. I mean, I get why he's making some unpopular decisions, but does it have to be so extreme? The whole "No Kings" thing is really resonating with a lot of people, and for good reason - we've seen history repeat itself before when authoritarian leaders come to power.

I'm also super frustrated that people are still not speaking out about these issues. If we don't make our voices heard, who will? It's like, we're all in this together, you know? As someone who cares about healthcare and the environment, it's disheartening to see Trump making decisions that seem to harm both of those areas.

I'm not sure what the future holds, but I do know that if we don't stand up for ourselves and our democracy, we might be in trouble .

I'm getting major anxiety vibes from this whole situation . I feel like we're at a tipping point where people are speaking up against what they believe is a threat to our democracy, and it's so empowering to see! At the same time, I'm worried about the polarization and division that's going on - it feels like we're being pitted against each other instead of coming together as a collective . As someone who's passionate about mindfulness and self-care, I wish people could just take a step back and breathe for a second... or at least be able to find some common ground with those on the opposing side . We need to stay calm, centered, and focused on what really matters - each other

omg u gotta see this - the ppl r not gonna take it lying down anymore ! thousands are out protesting trump in NYC and its NOT JUST ABOUT HIS POLICIES its about preserving democracy like ed said. and i feel 4 nicole btw she's been thru hell w her husband's insurance & trump's just makin it worse we gotta make some noise or we're all gonna lose our rights

I'm kinda worried about this whole situation with Trump... it feels like we're living in a parallel universe where he thinks he can just ignore everyone and do whatever he wants . The fact that some people are even calling themselves Antifa, which is already a pretty loaded term , is crazy to me. Can't we all just agree that Trump's actions are a major red flag ? And honestly, I don't think it's too much to ask for him to follow the rules of the Constitution, you know? It's not like he's being reasonable or anything... this whole fascist thing is giving me the chills .

I'm getting major vibes from this protest in Times Square ... it's like people are waking up to the fact that Trump's antics can't be ignored anymore . I mean, history is pretty clear - when authoritarian leaders come to power, democracy suffers . It's not just about Trump either, it's about the whole systemic issue of inequality and marginalization . I'm with Ed on this one - if we don't take action now, we're setting ourselves up for a world of trouble . But at the same time, I think it's essential to acknowledge that there are multiple perspectives here ... some people might see Antifa stickers as a badge of honor, while others see them as divisive . It's all about finding common ground and working together ... not gonna lie, though, this rally has me feeling pretty fired up

I'm keeping an eye on this whole situation. I think it's good that people are standing up against Trump's actions, especially when it comes to immigrants and minorities. It's not right that they're being targeted like this . At the same time, I think some of the language used by the protesters is pretty heated - "fascist" can be a pretty loaded term, you know? And yeah, I see what Laura means about needing collective action to counter Trump's rhetoric, but we also need to make sure we're not fueling the fire ourselves. It's all about finding that balance .

idk what's goin on with trump rn , like, one day he's a celeb and next thing u know he's gettin authoritarian ? all these ppl showin up for the no kings rally in times square, it's like they're tryna send a message that we ain't goin down without a fight . and y'all think he's just gonna ignore the fact that his policies are hurtin people, especially immigrants and minorities ? like, what's next? is hea goin to start roundin people up or somethin? meanwhile, bernie sanderz is like the only one callin him out on it , hope more ppl listen . btw, can we pls just have a calm conversation about this instead of resortin to labels and antifa stickers ?

I'm not surprised to see people taking to the streets in Times Square, especially with Trump at the helm . It's like he's playing a never-ending game of "How to Undermine Democracy" . On one hand, I get why everyone's so upset - the man's been making some seriously questionable moves lately . But on the other hand... I mean, has anyone else noticed that all these protests are just fueling his ego? Like, he's basically begging for attention . And what's with the Antifa sticker drama? Can't we all just get along (or at least, not label each other as "fascist")? I'm torn between wanting to believe that we can make a difference and thinking that maybe we're just stuck in this rut of protest-and-response . One thing's for sure tho: if we don't keep speaking out, we'll be the ones losing

I'm not sure I agree with all these protesters being so harsh on Trump . I mean, what if he's just trying to shake things up? And yeah, I get that some of his policies might be, well, questionable , but let's give him a chance to fix them before we start calling for his head . Some of these people are jumping the gun and being super dramatic about it . What if he actually does implement some of those things that everyone's so against? Won't that be progress in any way? And what's with all this Antifa business, anyway? Can't we just focus on finding common ground without labeling each other as "bad guys" ? I'm not saying Trump is innocent or anything, but let's keep an open mind, shall we?

This guy Trump is like the human version of a speeding train , nobody knows where he's going but everyone's gonna get hurt. I mean who needs history lessons when you've got Twitter ? And can we talk about the Antifa stickers on street signs... it's like some people are trying to one-up each other in the "I'm-not-a-terrorist" department . On a serious note though, if these rallies are making people feel like their rights are on the line then I say good for them! It's about time we stood up for democracy and our fellow humans who need protection .

I'm not sure why people are getting so worked up over this whole "King" thing, like what's next? We're supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave, but apparently, we can't even protect our own democracy from someone trying to consolidate power . I mean, I've seen some crazy stuff in my time on the platform, but this takes the cake. Can we please just calm down and focus on what's really important?

So I'm thinking we gotta be super careful here. Thousands showing up in one place, it can get pretty intense. Can't say I agree with some of the labels being thrown around tho - Antifa sticker on a street sign? That's just asking for trouble . At the same time, you can't deny the frustration that's building up among people, especially those who feel like they're being left behind . It's scary to think about what could happen if Trump keeps pushing his agenda forward . One thing's for sure, though - we need to keep having these conversations and making our voices heard

aww u guys r so brave!! i love how u all are standing up 4 what u believe in & fighting 4 democracy!!! it's amazing how many ppl r coming together 2 fight against fascism & authoritarianism - we gotta make our voices heard & support each other

I don't trust any of these protest groups, they're just looking for attention and a sense of power... meanwhile, Trump's just trolling them, expecting them to get all worked up so he can say "I told you so" when it all blows over . And what's with the Antifa stickers? Is that really how we're gonna identify ourselves as a movement? It feels like some people are more concerned with being seen as "cool" than actually taking action to change things.

man, i think people are overreacting . trump's not as bad as ppl make him out 2 b... he's just trying 2 shake things up & challenge the status quo. all these labels like "fascist" r just gonna fuel the fire of polarisation . let's focus on finding common ground instead of demonizing each other. also, i think protesters cld take a step back & re-examine their tactics... this whole "antifa sticker" thing is just giving trump more ammo to use against us . and btw, senator sanders r always good 4 a passionate speech

omg u guys r really worried about trump? like calm down he's not actually gonna behead anyone anyway i think its cool that ppl are speaking out but some of u should chill and get ur facts straight ed's whole "slippery slope" thing is hella dramatic what has he even read? its just a bunch of ppl with signs yelling at each other

"The question isn't whether you can afford the changes you want to make - it's whether you will make the changes."

I just saw this news about the protest in Times Square ️ and I'm literally shook. Like, how can you be so defiant when thousands of people are telling you that your actions are undermining democracy? It's like, hello, we're a country built on freedom and equality... not on authoritarian rule. And what really gets me is the hypocrisy – Trump is all about America being great again, but he's using the same tactics as those he says he hates. Anyway, I think it's awesome that people are speaking out against him and making their voices heard. We need to take a stand for democracy and human rights.

I'm getting super worried about this whole situation . It feels like we're living in a time where authoritarianism is on the rise and people are finally speaking out against it . The rallies are a great start, but we need to see more collective action from all corners of society . We can't just sit back and watch as our rights are stripped away without making a stand . I'm seeing some super passionate people at the rallies, like Laura, who's fighting for her marriage and health insurance . That's what it's all about - standing up for those who can't fight for themselves .

I also think we need to be careful not to label anyone with a specific ideology as "bad" or "good" . We're already seeing people getting labeled as Antifa or fascist, and that just creates more division . Let's focus on the issue at hand - protecting democracy and human rights .

It's also super interesting to see how this movement is growing across major cities . It shows that there are millions of people who care about what's going on and want to make a difference . We need to keep pushing forward, but also take care of each other and support those who are fighting the good fight .

One thing I do worry about is how the government will respond . If they start deploying National Guards, it could get really ugly . But for now, let's focus on the message we're sending - that we won't stand idly by while democracy is undermined . Keep speaking out, keep protesting, and keep fighting for what's right !