Protesters hold their signs and exchange waves with motorists driving into Ocean City during the No Kings rally.
They called him a clown, a callous billionaire who doesn’t care about ordinary Americans and even a “Cheeto” in a mocking reference to his orange-tinged facial makeup.
But mostly, they denounced him as a would-be king.
Donald Trump was the target of a litany of insults from more than 1,000 demonstrators who lined the main entryway into Ocean City on Saturday during a noisy, but peaceful, No Kings protest against the president and his policies.
Many motorists loudly honked their horns, waved and flashed the thumbs-up sign in support of the protesters while driving into town on the Route 52 Causeway bridge and Ninth Street corridor.
Protesters carried an array of signs proclaiming “No Kings Since 1776,” "No Crown for the Clown,” “Dump Trump,” “Democracy – yes, Monarchy – no,” “Restore Democracy,” “Veto the Cheeto,” and much more.
The Ocean City demonstration was one of more than 2,500 No Kings rallies across the country in protest of Trump’s presidency. A handful of protests were held in other South Jersey cities and towns, including Atlantic City, Cape May Court House, Galloway Township, Millville, Glassboro, Pennsville, Pine Hill and Haddon Township.
Ocean City’s protest started at 10 a.m. in a small park at the intersection of Ninth Street and Bay Avenue and later spread to the surrounding sidewalks and part way across the Route 52 Causeway bridge’s pedestrian walkway.
Lorraine Kilpatrick, one of the local leaders of the group Indivisible, an organizer of the nationwide No Kings protests, estimated that well over 1,000 demonstrators took part in the Ocean City rally.
“We were really expecting that,” Kilpatrick said of the crowd size. “We got so many thank-yous for doing this.”
Lorraine Kilpatrick, one of the organizers of the protest, stands behind an Indivisible banner.Kilpatrick, who also serves as the leader of the Sea Isle City Democratic Committee, said the protesters were simply exercising their constitutional right to free speech to voice their frustration with Trump’s administration.
“We are scared. We are frightened. We do not want to see what’s going on in the country,” she said.
Republicans aligned with Trump have labeled the No Kings protests as a “Hate America Rally.”
Trump has disputed the messaging of the protests.
“They’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in an interview with Fox business host Maria Bartiromo.
The Ocean City protesters, though, repeatedly expressed their fear that Trump has his designs on a king-like presidency that would threaten democracy.
“We’re protesting against the loss of all of our freedoms,” Beesley’s Point resident Ellen Holland said while holding a “Hands Off Democracy” sign.
Beesley's Point neighbors Ellen Holland and Margie Barham display their protest signs.Margie Barham, Holland’s neighbor in Beesley’s Point, carried a “No Kings, No Trump” sign that depicted Trump as a Halloween-like character. She said Trump has radically changed America during his presidency.
“We are not America anymore. It’s not the America I know, I love and I grew up in,” Barham said.
Another protester, Kathy Wilson of Vineland, said she was hoping for a huge turnout to reflect what she believes is widespread anger over Trump’s escalating power.
“I hope more people will protest and resist peacefully,” said Wilson, while carrying a “No Trump” sign.
Protester Jean Antolini, of Ventnor, said she is outraged by Trump’s presidency and what she called “all the corruption.”
Antolini also believes that Trump and the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court have not treated women fairly. She carried a sign that said, “America Silences Women.”
The sidewalks along the Ninth Street corridor also served as an area for the protest.Some of the protesters dressed in inflatable costumes in a satirical swipe at Trump. Terri Reese stood on the corner of Bay Avenue and Ninth Street dressed as a unicorn, while her friend, George Murray, of Marmora, was wearing a T-Rex costume.
Reese, of Northfield, is a Democratic candidate who plans to run against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep Jeff Van Drew in the Second Congressional District race in 2026. She was one of the speakers at the Ocean City protest.
Along with dressing in costume, Reese carried a sign that said, “People Over Billionaires,” in reference to Trump’s wealth and the power wielded by the ultra-rich.
“It’s been an oligarchy and authoritarianism,” Reese said of what she believes has become of the federal government under Trump. “The oligarchy is running the country and squashing the constitutional rights of everyday citizens.”
No Kings protesters wave their signs while standing on the Route 52 causeway entrance into Ocean City.
Protesters line the fence along a small park at the corner of Ninth Street and Bay Avenue.
Kathy Wilson, of Vineland, shows her "No Trump" sign.
Altogether, more than 1,000 protesters rallied in a park and on the Route 52 Causeway bridge's walkway.
A "No Kings ... No Dictators" sign expresses displeasure with President Trump's policies.
