The White House’s official Instagram account sparked controversy over the weekend when the No Kings protest was taking place across 2,500 U.S. cities.
On Saturday, as the government entered the third week of a shutdown, protests took place all across the U.S. to oppose “authoritarian power grabs” by U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration.
Highlights
- The White House’s Instagram posted an edited image of Trump and Vance wearing crowns during the nationwide No Kings protests.
- Nearly 7 million people protested in 2,500 U.S. cities opposing Trump’s alleged “authoritarian power grabs.”
- Trump dismissed the protests as a “joke,” accusing George Soros and “radical left lunatics” of funding the rallies.
- Trump posted an AI video flying a jet labeled “King Trump,” dumping feces on protestors, drawing sharp criticism.
Nearly 7 million people participated in this show of dissent.
The White House's Instagram account posted a controversial photo during the No Kings protest
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
Trump supporters pushed back against the protest, labeling it a “hate America rally.”
Trump, in his own words, addressed the rallies in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, saying, “A king! This is not an act.”
“You know, they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” he said at another point.
Trump also blamed George Soros, a billionaire investor and a donor to the Democratic Party, for funding the rallies. He said the protests were “paid for by Soros and other radical left lunatics” while speaking to reporters on October 19.
The photo, shared on the same day as the nationwide protest, featured Trump and Vance seated side by side in ornate chairs, each wearing a crown.
The caption read, “We’re built different. Have a good night, everyone. 👑”
Image credits: The White House/Instagram
Under the photo was another frame consisting of edited photos of minority leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer wearing sombreros.
The posts received criticism online, with people taking it as confirmation that the protests were getting to Trump, and noting the comparison between Trump with a crown in the image and the No Kings protest in the U.S.
Social media users also pointed out that the composition of the photo with Trump and Vance being positioned close to each other gave the impression of a royal couple’s portrait.
The image showed Trump and Vance wearing crowns
This has not been the only time Trump’s social media team has posted edits with the sombrero.
Last Wednesday, the White House’s X account posted a video of Sen. Bernie Sanders from a CNN town hall with a superimposed sombrero on his head and Latin music playing in the background.
The controversy followed Trump’s own weekend social media activity, where he posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social.
In the video, Trump flies a fighter jet labeled “King Trump” over a crowd of protesters and drops feces on them. The video used real footage from a rally.
Trump also drenched left-wing influencer Harry Sisson in the sludge as ‘Danger Zone’ played in the background in the video. Following this, musician Kenny Loggins demanded that Trump remove his music from the video, while Sisson said Trump and Vance were “terrified of us.”
Trump also posted an AI video of himself throwing feces on protesters from a fighter jet
The No Kings protest over the weekend was the second demonstration of its kind, with the first being held in June on Trump’s 79th birthday while an extravagant parade took place to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
Five million people took part in those protests—about 2 million fewer than this time around.
Demonstrators were protesting against Trump’s actions since he came into power, including deploying the National Guard to U.S. cities.
Trump also threatened protesters with invoking the Insurrection Act during an interview with Fox Business that aired Sunday.
Image credits: Lev Radin/Getty Images
The Act, which was last used in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots, gives the president power to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion.
“Don’t forget, and I haven’t used it, but don’t forget: I can use the Insurrection Act. Fifty percent of the presidents, almost, have used that. And that’s unquestioned power,” Trump told Maria Bartiromo.
Only 15 out of the 45 presidents have invoked the Insurrection Act.