Iran's Khamenei Challenges Trump's Authority Amid Nationwide "No Kings" Protests

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has once again challenged Donald Trump's authority regarding global policies.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has taken aim at US President Donald Trump amid escalating 'No King' demonstrations across America. These protests target Trump's administration policies on immigration, education, and security, which organizers claim are pushing the United States toward autocratic rule.

On social media platform X, Khamenei questioned Trump's leadership abilities, suggesting that if Trump were truly capable, he would address the resistance growing within his own country.

"According to the reports, seven million people are chanting slogans against this individual in different states across America. If you're that capable, calm them down, send them back to their residences, and don't interfere in the affairs of other countries," wrote the Iranian leader while sharing images from the nationwide 'No King' protests.

This criticism follows Khamenei's rejection of proposed renewed talks with the United States. The Iranian leader also denied Trump's claims that Iran's nuclear facilities were destroyed by an airstrike in June. Khamenei challenged Washington's authority to determine which nations can develop nuclear industries, asking: "What position do you hold in the world? How is it any of America's business whether Iran has nuclear capabilities and a nuclear industry or not?"

The 'No Kings' protests saw massive turnouts across all 50 US states on Saturday. Organizers reported approximately seven million participants marching from New York to Los Angeles, with demonstrations appearing even in small cities throughout America's heartland and near Trump's Florida residence.

"This is what democracy looks like!" chanted thousands of protesters in Washington near the US Capitol, where the federal government remained shut down for a third consecutive week due to legislative deadlock.

Protesters carried signs calling to "protect democracy" while others demanded the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been central to Trump's immigration crackdown. Demonstrators criticized what they described as the Republican billionaire's authoritarian tactics, including his attacks on media, political opponents, and undocumented immigrants.

Trump's reaction to Saturday's demonstrations was characteristically provocative. The US president posted several AI-generated videos on his Truth Social platform portraying himself as a king. One video depicted Trump wearing a crown while piloting a fighter jet that appeared to drop excrement on anti-Trump protesters.