Anti-Trump Protesters Rally in Downtown Missoula as ‘No Kings’ Movement Returns

MISSOULA — Four months after their first “No Kings” protest in June, anti-Trump activists returned to downtown Missoula Saturday morning, drawing roughly 2,500 demonstrators in what appeared to be a collective venting of frustrations that have been building since their last major mobilization.

The protest, organized by the same coalition of groups—Indivisible Missoula, Missoula Resists, and Stand Up Fight Back—that coordinated June’s event, began at the courthouse lawn before marching north through downtown to a rally behind the Depot on West Alder Street.

Saturday’s turnout fell short of organizers’ claims that their June event drew 8,000 people, with the actual crowd appearing closer to the “several thousand” Western Montana News reported at the time.

Escalated Rhetoric on Display

The signs carried by protesters revealed rhetoric that has grown increasingly inflammatory since June. While the earlier protest featured profanity-laced anti-Trump messages and “Fight Fascism” slogans, Saturday’s demonstration showcased more extreme messaging.

One prominently displayed sign equated a MAGA hat with a KKK hood and Nazi SS officer hat, reading “Same Shit Different Hat.” Another declared “The Only King I See Is A Fucking Fascist,” while a third read “ICE WILL MELT. TR*MP WILL D*E. LOVE ALWAYS WINS.”

Other notable signs included references to former FBI Director James Comey’s controversial social media post, with “86 47” appearing on multiple placards—a coded reference to removing the 47th president. A Smokey the Bear illustration warned “Only You Can Prevent Fascism,” while creative slogans like “Oli-gargle Deez Nuts” and “I Prefer my ICE Crushed” drew smiles from the crowd.

The visual spectacle included protesters in inflatable costumes that have become fixtures at anti-ICE demonstrations nationwide—including a chipmunk, frog, unicorn, and Barney the Dinosaur. One man carried an upside-down American flag, while another dressed as Bernie Sanders.

Conservative Response

Montana GOP Chairman Art Wittich dismissed the protests as political theater, telling Western Montana News that “Americans have suffered nearly a decade of Democrats crying wolf about Trump. They see right through the theater at this point.”

“Democrats and their allies are welcome to waste their time organizing performative, do-nothing protests, rather than focusing on organizing their mess of a party,” Wittich said through GOP Communications Director Ethan Holmes.

Wittich’s characterization of a party “mess” aligns with Western Montana News’ previous reporting on Democratic Party troubles. In August, an internal party memo revealed “strategic disarray” following electoral defeats, while the party has struggled with a campaign finance scandal involving a consultant who embezzled over $250,000 from Democratic campaigns and organizations.

The Montana Veterans Association, when asked about protesters’ characterizations of federal policies as “military occupation,” said the organization was still “internally discussing the issue” and had not reached a public position on the inflammatory language.

Organized Infrastructure Remains Active

Behind the Depot, the same network of progressive organizations that mobilized in June maintained an active presence. Tables operated by Starbucks Workers United, Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America, and others distributed literature and collected contact information.

Missoula Resists provided training opportunities for “ICE Rapid Response Verifiers” and distributed window signs for local businesses reading “EVERYONE’S WELCOME EXCEPT ICE,” along with text explaining businesses’ rights to deny ICE access without judicial warrants.

The Western Montana DSA promoted their speaker series at the Elks Lodge and announced their annual May Day BBQ planned for May 2026. A Free Palestine table accepted donations, though the destination for collected funds was not clearly identified.

Steam Valve for Frustrated Base

Saturday’s demonstration appeared to serve as much as an emotional outlet as a political statement. After four months since their last major mobilization, the assembled activists seemed eager to express accumulated frustrations through increasingly provocative messaging.

The protest followed the familiar pattern established in June, with the same organizing groups, similar attendance, and comparable inflammatory rhetoric—though amplified. Signs that previously read “FUCK TRUMP” evolved into comparisons with Nazi imagery, while calls to “86” Trump took on more ominous undertones.

Montana GOP’s Wittich suggested the ongoing protests reflect Democratic Party struggles rather than genuine grassroots resistance. “Republicans want a limited and constitutional government, lower taxes, and stronger families — in other words, the type of governance that makes authoritarianism impossible,” he said.

As Trump approaches the midpoint of his first year in his second term, Saturday’s turnout suggests the organized resistance in Missoula maintains its infrastructure but may be running on familiar energy rather than gaining new momentum. The same faces, same groups, and same themes from June reappeared with slightly lower numbers and significantly higher temperature.