...
By Adeola Adeosun
Weekend Night Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Florida's The Villages, a sprawling retirement community and Republican stronghold, saw its largest-ever "No Kings" protest Saturday, as demonstrators turned out in record numbers for the third round of nationwide rallies against President Donald Trump's administration.
Why It Matters
The Villages spans three Central Florida counties — Lake, Sumter, and Marion — all of which voted comfortably for Trump in 2024, with Sumter leading at 68 percent. Sustained and growing protest turnout in a community so closely aligned with the president signals that opposition to the administration is extending well beyond traditional Democratic strongholds.
Read More on News
Nationally, Saturday's demonstrations marked the largest single-day protests in U.S. history, with at least 8 million people gathering at more than 3,300 events across all 50 states and nearly every continent, according to "No Kings" organizers.
What To Know
According to Villages News, more than 5,500 demonstrators lined up along Morse Boulevard at the entrance to Lake Sumter Landing, according to Rochelle Larson of Villagers 4 Democracy. A separate protest at the Warm Springs/Marsh Bend intersection in The Villages South drew 1,250 protesters — three times the turnout from the second No Kings rally at the same location in October. Organizers at that site estimated that roughly 8,000 vehicles and 1,300 golf carts passed by, exposing thousands more to demonstrators' messages.
Saturday's demonstration is the latest in a series of protests that have taken root in The Villages over the past year.
In April 2025, nearly 2,000 residents joined the nationwide "Hands Off!" rallies, protesting the Trump administration's handling of Social Security, Medicaid, and federal jobs. In July 2025, Villages residents participated in Good Trouble Lives On demonstrations held on the anniversary of the death of civil rights leader Democratic Representative John Lewis. The community also turned out for the first two rounds of "No Kings" rallies, in June and October 2025, which drew an estimated 5 million and 7 million participants nationally, respectively.
The Villages is a predominantly white retirement community for residents 55 and older, primarily represented by Republican Representative Daniel Webster of Florida's 11th Congressional District.
Among those who traveled specifically to participate was Bethany Barber, visiting from Germany, who attended the southern protest with her parents. Also in attendance was Diana Lee, visiting from Minnesota, who said she wanted to be part of The Villages' protest after being unable to join demonstrators back home.
Minnesota's Twin Cities saw more than 200,000 protesters turn out Saturday in the largest single-day protest in the state's history, according to "No Kings" organizers.
What People Are Saying
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump said, as reported by Fox News: “I’m not a king. I work my a** off to make our country great. That’s all it is. I’m not a king at all.”
Rochelle Larson, Villagers 4 Democracy, via Villages News: "Folks have had enough of the Trump Administration's incompetence and cruelty. We are telling the Republicans in Congress and the Trump Administration that Americans have had enough, and we will continue to protest until this administration is out of office."
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement: “The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them.”
LaRae Donnellan, Democratic Club of The Villages Rally Committee Chair, via Villages News: "Although there were only 1,250 protesters at The Villages-South location, we counted about 8,000 vehicles and another 1,300 golf carts and their passengers who saw us and our messages today."
Bethany Barber, visitor from Germany, via Villages News: "Germany has reckoned with its past in a way that the United States hasn't really yet. Germans have learned from their mistakes in a way that I feel is really inspiring. I'm thrilled to be here today because I feel I can't do enough from Germany, and I want to be part of the resistance."
Carlene Thumann Prezioso, Village of Pinellas, Deaf for Democracy: "I'm thrilled to see so many people here. More than last time. Obviously, people are fed up."
**Democratic Florida Congressional candidate Barbie Harden Hall, via X: "**My people!! Did you know the Congressional District covering The Villages had a 7 point shift to the LEFT in 2024? The largest Democratic swing in Florida. We’ll take it the rest of the way in November!"
...
What Happens Next
Saturday's record turnout in The Villages adds to a growing pattern of protest activity in Republican-leaning communities. "No Kings" organizers have indicated the movement will continue mobilizing ahead of future demonstrations.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines