On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the United States is set for a collision of spectacle and dissent as the Trump administration’s plans for a grand military event in California converge with a fresh wave of nationwide “No Kings” protests. Against a backdrop of political turbulence, government shutdown, and deepening divides, the day promises both dazzling displays of military power and passionate calls for democracy.
According to The Los Angeles Times and MeidasTouch, the Trump administration has organized a major event at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. The celebration, led by Vice President JD Vance—himself a Marine veteran and the first to serve as Vice President—will feature a demonstration of amphibious capabilities, including live artillery firing and possibly the firing of live missiles from Navy warships stationed off the coast. The Marine Corps has promoted the event as an “Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration,” highlighting integrated operations across air, land, and sea, followed by a “Beach Bash” for service members and families at Del Mar Beach.
But the event’s grandeur has not come without controversy. California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted with fury to reports that the military parade could disrupt daily life and commerce along Interstate 5, the state’s economic artery. “Donald Trump and JD Vance can find money to launch missiles over the I-5 during a government shutdown, but not a dime for Americans’ health care,” Newsom wrote on X, voicing concerns that the parade is a “vanity” project that prioritizes spectacle over substance. He added, “Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military. PUT ASIDE YOUR VANITY PARADE AND PAY OUR TROOPS INSTEAD.”
The Marine Corps, for its part, has tried to allay public fears. In a press release, it stated, “All training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols,” emphasizing that a “detailed risk assessment” had been completed and “multiple rehearsals will be conducted” before the big day. The Corps also insisted that “no public highways or training routes will be closed.” However, the California Department of Transportation’s spokesperson, Edward Barrera, warned that if the federal government requests closure of the freeway, “drivers should expect delays on Interstate 5 and other state routes throughout Southern California before, during and after the event.”
According to MeidasTouch, sources have described the planned event as a “vanity parade,” and the outlet reported claims—unconfirmed by other sources—that the administration “may fire” missiles at ‘No Kings’ protesters as a “show of force.” However, The Los Angeles Times made clear that the artillery firing and any I-5 closure are related to the Marine Corps event, not directly to the protests. The White House has yet to confirm or deny the more dramatic allegations, and the Marine Corps has stressed that all activities will be conducted safely and within designated training areas.
The timing of the military event is particularly striking as it coincides with the latest round of “No Kings” protests—a nationwide campaign opposing what organizers view as authoritarian policies and executive overreach by President Donald Trump. The protests, which began in June 2025 and drew millions to the streets across the country, are planned for October 18 in cities and towns from California to Indiana and beyond.
In Evansville, Indiana, at least two local progressive groups are gearing up for “No Kings” events. Indivisible Evansville, the local branch of the national Indivisible Project, is hosting a civics-focused lecture by University of Evansville professor Valerie Stein at McCollough Public Library at 10:30 a.m. The group’s director, Wendy Bredhold, explained, “Indivisible Evansville’s focus is on making concrete change with strategic and inclusive organizing. On ‘No Kings Day,’ we’ve chosen to put our energy into initiatives that align with those values, and to that end we’re hosting a lecture by a social justice expert and launching a free organizing course for local groups to build strategy and make real change.”
Following the lecture, Evansville Resistance, another progressive group, will stage a protest rally at 1 p.m. in front of the Winfield K. Denton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse downtown. Organizer Kristina Bickle said, “We’re taking the approach that Portland took, and we’re just going to try and bring joy to resistance. We’re also going to have speeches that cover serious topics and some readings to bring attention to what’s going on.”
“No Kings” rallies are not limited to Evansville. The coalition’s website lists at least 40 events planned across Indiana, including a major protest on the National Mall in Washington D.C. These protests, according to organizers, are a response to a range of grievances: from Trump’s efforts to consolidate executive power and implement sweeping immigration enforcement, to recent political assassinations, indictments of political opponents, and the ongoing government shutdown.
Republican leaders, however, have dismissed the protests as ineffective or even dangerous. Vanderburgh County Republican Party Chair Khyle Moers told the Courier & Press, “It’s a poor imitation of what’s being done at the national level. People don’t want that in-your-face confrontation. There’s diminishing returns about how far you can take that messaging here.” House Speaker Mike Johnson went further, labeling the planned National Mall protest a “hate America rally” that would attract “pro-Hamas” and “antifa people.” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed these sentiments, claiming that “No Kings” was “part of antifa,” which the Trump administration recently designated as a “domestic terrorist organization.”
Democrats, meanwhile, are encouraging participation. Cheryl Schultz, chair of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party, said the party “encourages anyone who wants to take part in the ‘No Kings’ activities to jump in and get involved.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, law enforcement in Evansville reported no credible threats. Sgt. Anna Gray of the Evansville Police Department stated, “At this time, we are not aware of any threats of violence in Evansville pertaining to the protests and/or the presence of any ‘antifa’ groups.” The “No Kings” coalition insists it advocates for “a peaceful movement” to oppose “authoritarian power grabs” by Trump.
As the nation braces for Saturday’s events, Americans remain deeply divided. A recent Times/Siena poll found that 64% of registered voters believe the country is “too divided politically to solve its problems.” The government shutdown, triggered by ongoing congressional deadlock, has only heightened tensions and uncertainty, with military personnel among those left unpaid as the administration prepares for a costly public celebration.
Whether the military parade will go off without major disruption, and whether the “No Kings” protests will capture the nation’s attention or fizzle in the face of official condemnation, remains to be seen. What is certain is that October 18 will be a day when America’s divisions—and its dueling visions of patriotism and dissent—are on full display.
