A Washington Examiner columnist said the nationwide "No Kings" protests held Saturday appear to lack organic grassroots support, describing the coordinated demonstrations as "contrived."
Joe Concha, a columnist for the Washington Examiner, pointed to a Fox News Digital investigation identifying a network of around 500 groups with an estimated annual revenue of $3 billion behind the Saturday protests. Concha noted actress Jane Fonda was "reading a script" while speaking at a protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, and said actor Robert De Niro similarly appeared to be reading from prepared remarks.
"I thought this was organic, just speak from the heart," Concha said on Fox News's Fox & Friends First on Monday. "And let's repeat that number you just said, Todd, Carley: $3 billion behind these so-called protests? That doesn't exactly seem grassroots or organic."
Concha also cited videos from the protests showing participants who said they were paid to march and carrying signs that were made for them. "We saw several videos of people at these protests who said they were paid to march and they were carrying signs that were made for them, so this appears to be pretty much a made-for-social-media event," he said.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressives and protest organizers have framed the No Kings protests as a spontaneous grassroots movement opposing presidential overreach. Organizers described the Saturday demonstrations as Americans exercising their First Amendment rights to protest executive actions they view as threatening democracy. Supporters argue that large-scale turnout, regardless of funding sources, demonstrates genuine public concern about the concentration of executive power.
Democratic-aligned activists have focused on constitutional concerns, arguing that checks on executive authority are essential to democratic governance. Progressive groups have emphasized that the protests represent widespread public sentiment against specific administration policies, not manufactured opposition.
What the Right Is Saying
Concha questioned how protest participants could chant "No kings" when he said the Democratic Party "installed" former Vice President Kamala Harris as its presidential nominee in July 2024. He also referenced WikiLeaks disclosures showing the Democratic National Committee worked to advance former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, in the 2016 primary.
"The only word I can think of to describe No Kings was contrived," Concha said. "And quite frankly, again, that word contrived, I can't get away from because, again, all the people that are there will vote for the Democrat nominee in the next presidential election."
Conservatives have characterized the protests as politically motivated demonstrations designed to oppose the Trump administration. Republican commentators have noted that funding from established liberal organizations suggests the protests are coordinated political activism rather than spontaneous citizen expression.
What the Numbers Show
The Fox News Digital investigation identified approximately 500 groups within a network behind the No Kings protests, with an estimated combined annual revenue of $3 billion.
The Conservative Political Action Conference's annual straw poll found 53% of respondents prefer Vice President JD Vance as the GOP's next presidential nominee. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed with 35%.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, sidestepped questions about a potential 2028 presidential run, telling the Washington Examiner his focus is on "continuing to deliver major victories." Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, said he is "50-50" about running for president again. Both Cruz and Paul previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 before Donald Trump won it.
The Bottom Line
The debate over whether the No Kings protests represent authentic grassroots activism or coordinated political mobilization centers on funding and organization. The $3 billion figure and 500-group network identified by Fox News Digital has become central to conservative critiques, while progressive arguments emphasize public engagement regardless of organizational backing.
The 2028 Republican primary landscape is already taking shape, with the CPAC straw poll indicating strong preference for Vance or Rubio among conservative voters. Any potential candidates not named Vance or Rubio face an uphill battle, according to Concha's analysis, unless "approved by MAGA" or serving in the Trump administration.
What to watch: Whether protest attendance figures and public polling on executive power can provide clearer signals about the depth of public support for either side's framing of these demonstrations.