By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The upcoming “No Kings” demonstrations are anticipated to be the largest single-day protests in U.S. history, with organizers aiming to celebrate the First Amendment and resist authoritarianism. Right-wing figures and media outlets have responded with a wave of fear-mongering and disparagement, attempting to frame the protests as anti-American and inciting violence. They have deployed classic authoritarian tactics by demonizing opponents and spreading misinformation to divide and instill fear in the public. Despite the smear campaign, protesters, including whimsical inflatable creatures, are using absurdity and peaceful assembly to counter the narrative of violence and uphold American freedoms.
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King Donald the First: Fuck That.
Let’s just be blunt, this whole “King Donald the First” thing is a hard pass. The idea of a king, a unitary executive with plenary authority, in the United States is fundamentally antithetical to everything this country is supposed to stand for. It’s a symptom of a larger problem, a rot that needs to be addressed. And frankly, the sentiment “Fuck That” is a pretty succinct way of putting it. It really is.
The real issue goes beyond the individual. It’s not just about “Donnie Dipshit” or “King PeDonald the Turd.” It’s about the seventy-seven million plus who cast their votes for him. That’s a huge number, and it speaks volumes about the current state of things. It’s a reflection of something deeply troubling, a shift towards accepting authoritarianism, or at least being susceptible to it. It’s a societal problem.
The title “Emperor Donald the First” or “Donald Trump, the Little Emperor” fits the image better. He definitely sees himself as above the rules, not bound by the constraints of a mere presidency. It’s a scary thought. And it’s disheartening to consider that some of the very people who had the power to stop this, like Mitch McConnell, failed to do so. They had the opportunity to reinforce the constitution and push back, but they didn’t. Instead, they allowed it to happen.
The term “King Donald the Last” feels more appropriate, a plea to ensure that this experiment in quasi-monarchy doesn’t happen again. We should all be taking steps to reinforce our commitment to the values of democracy, and that includes those in power and those voting. To hell with MAGA and to hell with Trump. The country is not and should not be a monarchy.
You know, the idea of “bloviating” perfectly captures the essence of his public persona. And the responses to that have been rather comical, to put it mildly. What a mess. “Donald Fuck” sums it up. The idea of Donald Tramp being Putin’s favorite hooker just makes sense on a certain level. The only appropriate response to a would-be king in the USA should be a firm rejection. Regicide, no! But that’s just me.
Then there’s the frog meme… I never would have predicted the cartoon frog would come to be seen as a symbol of fascism and then antifascism. Now, it’s on the side of democracy. No kings! But the whole frog thing… it’s like a bizarre subplot we all missed. Frogs are supposed to represent an army? That’s quite a leap. Seriously.
It’s tempting to think that all those votes were somehow manufactured. The people surrounding Trump and their use of misinformation… it’s almost too much. The swing states… It’s just too much. And the 14th Amendment violation… that should have prevented him from running in the first place. The real problem isn’t just the voters who might have been ignorant or empowered. The real problem is the people in Congress, the senators, the judges, the people who allowed all this to happen. It feels like treason.
The impact of all this on the country’s international reputation is obvious. It makes me question going there at all anymore.
Bigotry will always be present, but it can be contained. We need to actively work against it, otherwise the “MAGAt in the flesh” will just keep bloviating. It’s a sad state of affairs, and we can only hope that everyone stands against the idea of “King Donald.”
Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into something more. It’s an illegitimate presidency. No kings! I think the world is watching, and it’s time for democracy to stand up, once and for all. It’s time to build a Grand Frog Army of the Republic!