Houston Mayor John Whitmire had only praise for the way the No Kings rally unfolded. "I just think we witnessed Houston at its best – I'll use the word ‘spectacular,'" Whitmire said in a mid-afternoon phone call.

Debbie Simmons holds up her “Criminal Felon” during a “No Kings” protest at the corner of State Road 436 and Howell Branch Road in Casselberry, Fla., Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Tens of thousands of Americans joined "No Kings" protests across the United States against the Trump administration.

In a rare display of unity, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have jointly declared that the city does not require federal assistance to manage the planned "No Kings" protests scheduled for this Saturday.

A large protest is being planned in Houston that is expected to counter a military parade for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday this weekend.