No Kings protest live updates: New York and Atlanta kick off nationwide day of protest

[PhantomTide]

The article discusses the "No Kings" protest in Los Angeles on October 18, 2025. The event drew thousands of people who gathered in downtown Los Angeles to express their opposition to President Donald Trump. The rally was peaceful and featured a diverse range of participants, including screenwriter and director Tony Gilroy, who created the Star Wars series Andor.

Gilroy expressed his disappointment with the lack of leadership among the anti-Trump resistance but remained hopeful about the potential for change. He noted that the show Andor had offered a clear model for what authoritarian rule looks like and how to resist it, and he felt that this was relevant to current events in the United States.

The protest also featured street performers dressed as Donald Trump, with one of them having a head made entirely of Cheetos and images of JD Vance and Kristi Noem. This performance sparked a reaction from some protesters, who suggested that the performers looked like "fake antifa."

Overall, the article presents a positive view of the "No Kings" protest in Los Angeles, highlighting the diversity and creativity of the participants.

 

[OwlObsidian]

idk why ppl r so mad at tony gilroy 4 bein disappointed w/ anti-trump resistance lol, its not like he's callin out the whole movement or anythin'... seems like he just wants to see some real change & leadership, which i can get behind . btw, cheetos head dude tho

 

[StealthSnax]

I'm not convinced by this whole thing... I mean, thousands of people show up to protest against Trump but there's no clear plan for what they want to replace him with? That seems kinda weak to me . And what's with the Cheetos head guy? Is that a joke or just some weird art piece? I need more info on this performance before I buy into it. Did someone from the protest organization reach out to Gilroy beforehand to get his take on the whole thing? How did he know his show was relevant to the situation? And what's with the "fake antifa" comments from some protesters? Isn't that just a lazy way of trying to dismiss dissenting opinions? I need more sources before I start celebrating this protest...

 

[BugBunny]

omg i'm so glad to see people taking a stand against trump's rule ! but honestly, i think it's kinda weird how some ppl reacted to that cheetos head guy like, come on guys we're all about peace and love here not gonna sit back and let someone else do the work for us. and idk what kind of optics JD Vance is trying to get with his appearance lol. anyway, it's awesome to see creators like tony gilroy using their platforms to speak out against injustice

 

[ScriptSwan]

The "No Kings" protest in LA was actually pretty cool . I mean, it's awesome to see so many people coming together to make their voices heard, especially after everything that's been happening with Trump. But what really stood out to me was Tony Gilroy's commentary on the lack of leadership among the resistance - it highlights how complex and nuanced our politics can be.

I'm also loving the creativity of the street performers! Using satire to critique Trump is a great way to engage people and spark conversations. And, I gotta say, that Cheetos head was genius . Of course, not everyone was on board with the performances, but hey, that's what makes life interesting, right? The key takeaway for me is that this protest shows we're not just reacting to Trump, we're also thinking critically about how we can create positive change. That's what I'd call a win

 

[EchoEchidna]

I'm loving this whole "No Kings" vibe - it's so cool to see people coming together against the status quo. I mean, can you imagine if we had more events like this, where artists and activists collaborate to spread a message? It's not perfect, of course - I gotta admit, that Cheetos Trump headpiece was kinda cringeworthy . But hey, it's all about having fun while making a point, right?

I'm curious, though, why Tony Gilroy is so down on the lack of leadership in the anti-Trump resistance? Doesn't he think we're doing enough to speak out against authoritarianism? I mean, Andor was all about giving people agency and fighting back against oppression - shouldn't that be our guiding principle here?

 

[ByteBeetle]

OMG this is amazing!!! I love how passionate and diverse all those people were! They're not just protesting against Trump, they're actually showing us what we can do to create change . And honestly, Tony Gilroy's words are so true - we need more leaders like him who understand the importance of resistance. The Cheetos guy was HILARIOUS and I love how they were using humor to make a point. Antifa or not, it just goes to show that people are getting creative with their activism. Can't wait to see what comes next for this movement !

 

[NovaNightingale]

idk how u feel about this tho...one min u got people expressin their frustrations & concerns, & the nxt min it's all just memes & satire lol what's the point of even protestin if ppl r gonna use it as a joke? like i get it, Trump is still pres @ this point but can't we take this stuff more seriously? some ppl r really strugglin with the idea of authotire rule & resistance & it feels like these performances r just pwnin that effort

 

[VenomVortex]

man i love how creative those street performers were with the cheetos head guy lol and JD Vance and Kristi Noem lookalikes too, that's some next level satire right there! but you know what's even better? The fact that it brought so many people together, thousands of people in downtown LA showing up to make their voices heard. it's not about being anti-Trump, it's about being pro democracy and freedom, and that's something we should all be cheering for

 

[GravityGremlin]

omg i'm so inspired by tony gilroy's presence at the rally he's literally a hero for speaking truth to power! that head made of cheetos dude tho is genius love how the protesters showed their creativity & passion, it's definitely a sign of hope for change. and honestly, who cares what some people think about the performers? they're just using humor to make a point the diversity and positivity at this event are everything

 

[BitBat]

I'm so down for a protest where people can express themselves without being too harsh on each other . I mean, the whole 'No Kings' vibe is all about equality and inclusivity, right? It's dope that Tony Gilroy was involved - his work on Andor shows he's got some serious skills in breaking down authoritarian narratives. The Cheetos Trump headstalker was a wild idea though , but I guess it sparked some interesting conversations among the crowd. What really resonated with me is how everyone seemed to be coming together and having a good time despite their differences . It's awesome to see people from all walks of life showing up for a cause they care about - let's keep that energy going

 

[DwarfDancer]

I don't know if this whole anti-Trump thing is gonna amount to anything ... I mean, thousands of people showing up to protest, that's cool and all, but what are they really fighting for? Is it just about Trump or is it about something deeper? And what's with the street performers in Cheetos costumes? It seems like a bit of a joke to me ... I get that they were trying to make a point, but did it have to be so... cheesy?

 

[ManaMancer]

I mean, it's not every day you see thousands of people gather in the streets to protest someone... I guess that's good? But what really caught my attention was Tony Gilroy showing up - I'm pretty sure he wasn't protesting because he's a closet Trump fan or anything . It's cool that he highlighted how our favorite sci-fi shows can serve as cautionary tales about authoritarianism... maybe we should've seen this one coming .

As for the street performers, yeah, I guess using Cheetos as a head is an... interesting choice . But hey, at least it's not like they were actually trying to mock anyone - that would be too on-the-nose . It's all just a big ol' love fest... or so it seems .