Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Despite Republican efforts to dismiss widespread “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump, new polling data suggests a significant majority of Americans share concerns about the President’s exercise of power. Nationwide rallies, including a notable demonstration in Times Square on October 18, drew criticism from Republican leaders who labeled participants as extremists and their message as nonsensical, yet surveys indicate broad public sympathy for the core sentiment.
Republican Dismissal of “No Kings” Rallies
Republicans have actively worked to marginalize the “No Kings” rallies held across the country. They have characterized participants as extremists and asserted that their messages run counter to American founding principles. House Speaker Mike Johnson, for instance, stated that the protesters’ messages were “completely the opposite of what America was founded upon.”
President Trump also publicly dismissed the demonstrations, stating that the people involved were “not representative of this country.” He and his team utilized memes and AI-generated videos, including one depicting Trump donning a crown and dumping waste on protesters, to mock the movement.
Poll Shows Public Sympathy for Protesters’ Concerns
A recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute indicates that a majority of Americans align with the central message of the “No Kings” protests. The poll presented two options regarding Trump: either he is a “potentially dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys democracy,” or he is a “strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.”
Americans chose the “dangerous dictator” option by a margin of 56% to 41%, a notable increase from April’s 52% to 44% split. Furthermore, 54% of respondents believed Trump is waging an “assault on constitutional balances and the rule of law,” contrasting with 43% who saw his actions as a “long-overdue correction of disastrous policies.”
The poll also found strong conviction behind these views, with 45% of Americans “strongly” agreeing that Trump is a dangerous dictator, and 43% strongly agreeing he is assaulting checks and balances. Nearly half of independents shared these strong sentiments, suggesting broad concern beyond partisan lines.
Concerns About Executive Power
The Public Religion Research Institute poll is not an isolated finding; several other surveys reflect public apprehension regarding President Trump’s use of executive power. A July CNN poll reported that 56% of Americans believed Trump had gone “too far” in using presidential power, an increase from 52% in February.
Similarly, an April AP-NORC poll found that 57% of Americans thought Trump had exceeded his authority to achieve his goals. A September Washington Post-Ipsos poll indicated 62% believed Trump had gone beyond his presidential authority, while a September Pew Research Center poll showed 69% saw him exercising more presidential power than recent predecessors, with 49% deeming this “bad” for the country.
A September New York Times-Siena College poll revealed 54% of registered voters believed Trump was “exceeding the powers available to him,” a sentiment shared by nearly one in five Republicans. These figures suggest a consistent public perception that Trump is pushing the boundaries of presidential authority.
Historical Context of Concerns
Concerns about Trump’s potential for unchecked power have been present for an extended period, intensifying as his presidency has progressed. Prior to his second term, a December Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found Americans nearly evenly split on whether Trump would attempt to rule as a dictator, with 40% predicting he would.
Similarly, a December Reuters-Ipsos poll showed 53% considered it “somewhat likely” he would act as a dictator. A Quinnipiac University poll indicated 53% of voters were “concerned” by Trump’s 2023 comment about wanting to be a dictator for a day, which he later claimed was a joke. In October 2024, an ABC News-Ipsos poll found 49% of voters labeled Trump a “fascist.”
Beyond Partisan Divides
While accusations of presidential overreach have been leveled against leaders from both parties, polls indicate a distinct difference in public perception regarding Trump. For example, the ABC News-Ipsos poll showed only about 2 in 10 voters called Trump’s then-opponent, Kamala Harris, a fascist, less than half the number for Trump.
The Washington Post-Ipsos poll further highlighted this disparity, with only 34% believing President Biden had exceeded his authorities, compared to 62% for Trump. Moreover, an AP-NORC poll observed a significant jump in the percentage of Americans who believe a president has “too much” power, rising from 32% under Biden to 54% under Trump. These trends suggest a broad public recognition of an extraordinary situation regarding the scope of presidential power under Trump.
Public Sentiment
Despite Republican efforts to ridicule the “No Kings” rallies, the consistent polling data suggests that the core concerns about President Trump’s exercise of power resonate deeply with a majority of the American public. These sentiments indicate widespread apprehension regarding the balance of power and constitutional norms.
