‘Son, grandson, husband of immigrants’: Mehdi Hasan tears into Trump’s hypocrisy at ‘No Kings’ rally

The protest, one of over 2,500 demonstrations held across the United States, drew an electric mix of young activists, families, and veteran campaigners chanting “No more kings!” as they filled the heart of the capital.

Hasan, known for his unflinching interrogations and razor-sharp commentary, accused Trump of “playing monarch while dismantling democracy,” and warned against normalising authoritarian impulses. “We fought a revolution to get rid of kings,” he said. “We’re not about to kneel before one now.”

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Portions of Hasan’s speech has gone viral with millions of views and attracting a flurry of reactions. One YouTube user wrote, “Americans have been through Revolution, Civil War and two World Wars and we are not about to be intimidated in our own living rooms.” Another comment said, “Medhi Hasan BEST POLITICAL SPEECH of my lifetime!!!! Listen to it again and again.”

A third user said, “You guys are making me proud again.”

The No Kings Protest

The rally also saw appearances from progressive heavyweights Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined Hasan in condemning Trump’s alleged power grab and the ongoing government shutdown.

For many, Hasan’s speech captured the spirit of the protest — part catharsis, part call to arms — as the crowd roared in unison, waving placards that read “We the People” and “Democracy, not dynasty.”

The “No Kings” movement, coordinated by civic groups including Indivisible and Public Citizen, has emerged as a flashpoint in America’s political landscape ahead of the 2025 elections, uniting voices against what they see as the creeping normalisation of strongman politics.