No Kings Protesters Defy Nonpartisan Rules at Trump Rallies

At official No Kings protests in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., some demonstrators openly rejected organizers’ insistence that the movement is nonpartisan, offering a clearer view of the tension between the coalition’s public rules and the political messages voiced on the ground.

In Alexandria, Virginia, 26-year-old environmental engineer Nayely Cruz Hernandez joined protesters lining South Washington Street for the nationwide demonstrations against President Donald Trump. Her message to voters was direct: “Vote blue.” Speaking to Fox News Digital, she said Republicans and Trump needed to lose power and argued Democrats must win back the House and Senate in Virginia and across the country.

Standing with her boyfriend, Noah Schwarzott, 25, while holding their 13-year-old Maltese-poodle, Maybellene, Cruz Hernandez said she knew national No Kings organizers wanted the protests to remain nonpartisan, but she did not intend to follow that guidance. She dismissed the organizers’ position and tied her message explicitly to Republican control of the presidency and Congress. She later joked that Maybellene was “telling you to vote for Don Beyer,” referring to the Democratic congressman who represents Alexandria, Arlington and nearby communities.

The disconnect matters because national organizers have said the events must remain nonpartisan to comply with federal rules affecting nonprofits involved in the protest network. Written guidance from No Kings and leaders at the Indivisible nonprofit reportedly bars calls to “vote Blue,” endorsements of Democrats or candidates, and messaging targeting individuals.

Still, partisan messaging appeared in multiple forms at the Alexandria event, which was listed on the organizers’ official website. One protester held a sign from the far-left group Refuse Fascism reading, “TRUMP MUST GO NOW!” Another displayed an inflatable balloon portraying Trump as a baby in a diaper. Other signs included “THE USA Needs a Big Beautiful BLUE WAVE,” “EVERY DAY I HATE HIM MORE THAN I DID THE DAY BEFORE,” and “NO CROWN FOR THE CLOWN.” One sign read “86 47,” echoing the controversial social media post by former FBI Director James Comey that federal prosecutors deemed an overt threat against Trump.

Organizers maintain a different message

Eunic Epstein-Ortiz, national spokesperson for No Kings, told Fox News Digital that the movement is a “nonpartisan, peaceful movement” bringing together Americans to defend democracy, freedoms and opposition to authoritarianism. When told that events from Maine to Oregon appeared clearly partisan, Epstein-Ortiz said organizers were aware of partisan events online that were not officially affiliated with No Kings. In Alexandria, however, the protest in question was an official event.

Later, at another official No Kings protest on H Street NW near the White House, protester Nadine Seiler also rejected the nonpartisan label. Seiler, who described herself as a “professional protester,” said supporters of Trump were not participating and argued that a movement resisting what she called a “fascist regime” could not honestly be described as nonpartisan. Asked directly whether the event was partisan, she answered yes and concluded, “This is as partisan as you can get.”

The broader network behind No Kings has also drawn attention. A Fox News Digital investigation said roughly 300 organizations with a combined $2.5 billion in annual revenue are connected to the protest network, including Democratic-aligned advocacy groups, labor unions and nonprofits such as MoveOn, the American Federation of Teachers and the ACLU.

At the same time, organizers have circulated detailed election-law guidance discouraging partisan slogans, campaign materials, candidate endorsements and coordination with political parties. Yet comments from Indivisible leaders have added to questions about the movement’s political character. During an Oct. 15 livestream, co-founder Ezra Levin contrasted the parties’ candidates in openly favorable terms for Democrats. In an Oct. 9 webinar, he discussed criticizing Trump without making explicit Democratic endorsements, saying activists should let people “connect the dots.” Leah Greenberg, another Indivisible co-founder, has described No Kings as a nonpartisan coalition meant to welcome people across the political spectrum.

The legal distinction remains important: individual protesters making partisan statements do not automatically prove organizers violated election law. But from Alexandria to the White House, many participants showed little interest in hiding their political preferences.