Thousands of people are protesting in several US cities against the policies of US President Donald Trump. These demonstrations are taking place in cities like the capital, Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. Streets and subways were filled with people holding placards that read, “Democracy is Not Monarchy” and “The Constitution is Not Optional.” Before these demonstrations, Trump supporters alleged that the protesters were associated with the far-left organization Antifa. Trump’s allies condemned these demonstrations as “The Hate America Rally.” The organizing group stated on its website that the core principle of the “No Kings” demonstrations is nonviolence. The group also appealed to all protesters to try to de-escalate any potential conflict. In some places in New York, crowds repeatedly chanted “This is what democracy looks like.” How is Generation Z viewing the economy under Trump’s rule? Young Americans sharply criticize President Donald Trump’s handling of inflation but are more optimistic about their personal finances than older generations. This is one of the key findings of the NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, conducted by SurveyMonkey, which reveals how Generation Z and the American people are viewing the early months of the new administration.
A majority of adults across all generations said inflation and the rising cost of living are the economic issues most important to them and their families right now, and majorities across all generations disagree with Trump’s handling of both concerns. This is particularly true, with 7 in 10 members of Gen Z disapproving of how Trump has addressed inflation and the cost of living, a rate 14 percentage points higher than the disapproval rate among the oldest adults surveyed.
Three in 10 Americans under the age of 30 said their personal financial situation had worsened compared to a year ago, while 27% said it had improved. In comparison, 18% of those over the age of 65 said their financial situation had improved over the past year.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has issued numerous executive orders using his presidential powers. He has withheld funding approved by Congress, instituted federal government layoffs, and imposed sweeping tariffs on several countries. Recently, he deployed the National Guard to several cities despite opposition from governors. The president says these steps are necessary to rebuild the struggling country. Trump has dismissed accusations of authoritarianism or fascism as “madness,” but critics say some of his administration’s decisions are unconstitutional and a threat to American democracy. “They’re calling me a king, I’m not a king.” This statement seems straight from the mouth of the 47th president of the United States, but there’s a deep disconnect between words and actions, and Donald Trump’s denial of any monarchical claim is almost laughable. Watch his reaction to the massive protests he’s referring to in the video, an AI-generated video posted on Truth Social, showing him wearing a crown and throwing feces from a plane at protesters. Since taking office in January, the US president has seized upon himself the power to fire anyone he pleases, make deals he pleases, and spend (or, even more devastatingly, cut) at will, and this is evident. He is openly threatening courts that seek to use their oversight power to bypass the legislative branch, as he does anyone who speaks out against him or his policies. The president has used federal power against outspoken critics such as his former National Security Advisor John Bolton (who was indicted under the Espionage Act on Friday for allegedly sharing sensitive government information), former FBI Director James Comey (who faces criminal charges of obstruction of justice and lying to Congress), and New York Attorney General Letitia James (who was charged with financial fraud earlier this month). He has repeatedly violated freedom of expression, including by suing media organizations. Publications and channels he has targeted include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS, and ABC.
Citing anti-Semitic activities on campus, the Trump administration has suspended funding for prestigious educational institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and Princeton. Furthermore, the Trump administration has launched investigations into more than 50 universities. On the economic front, Trump’s policies have led to a surge in inflation in the US over the past few months. The unemployment rate is also steadily rising. A report by credit rating agency Moody’s predicts the US could be plunged into recession by the end of 2025. This warning has alarmed Americans.
The most controversial issue is Trump’s tariff policy. Trump heavily touted his tariff policy, but reports on its impact reveal that American companies and citizens are suffering the most from the tariffs. Trump promised the American people a $1 trillion revenue boost from the tariffs, but the actual revenues have fallen far short of expectations. Trump continues to harm not only the American people but also its institutions.
The impact of this decline in Trump’s popularity is repeatedly visible among the people, and people start protesting as soon as they see him. If we compare Nepal with America, America is the world’s oldest democracy and its institutions are still strong despite Trump’s verbal attacks. Therefore, it is unlikely that a situation like Nepal will develop in America, but the possibility of a situation like France remains. If Trump’s party faces losses in the 2026 mid-term elections, public protests against him will intensify, and voices may be raised strongly against Trump’s arbitrary policies.
