What began as a sweeping nationwide protest against President Donald Trump’s leadership has become mired in controversy after revelations that the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) is listed as a sponsor of one of the “No Kings” rallies in New York City.
Promoted as a show of unity against “authoritarianism,” the demonstrations—organized by the progressive network Indivisible, which is currently under investigation for promoting violence, and spanning more than 2,000 cities—have drawn millions of participants. Organizers say the marches are meant to reaffirm that “America has no kings” and that power must rest with the people.
But conservative critics argue the message rings hollow when one of the country’s most infamous far-left movements is helping to foot the bill. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) ignited debate on social media after posting an image of a New York City rally flyer listing CPUSA alongside unions and activist groups such as SEIU, the ACLU of New York, and the Democratic Socialists of America. “Your ‘No Kings’ rally is literally sponsored by the Communist Party,” Gill wrote—an accusation that has since gone viral, accumulating tens of thousands of likes and shares.
Your “No Kings” Rally is literally sponsored by the Communist Party https://t.co/3LqLkGvjVZ pic.twitter.com/iNllVBRaQ8
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) October 16, 2025
Republican officials swiftly seized on the revelation. Sen. Markwayne Mullin. a senator from Oklahoma, condemned the protests as “anti-American theater funded by communists,” while several state GOP leaders warned that the movement’s rhetoric echoed Cold War propaganda. In Michigan, Republican organizers circulated the flyer to highlight what they called “the red roots of the No Kings movement.”
For its part, CPUSA confirmed its involvement, boasting on its website that party members are participating nationwide and adding “a Communist plus” to the day’s actions. It’s also sponsoring other No Kings events in other areas of the country, including Minneapolis.
Democratic leaders have largely sidestepped the controversy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who publicly encouraged Americans to join the marches earlier this week, emphasized that the rallies are peaceful expressions of democratic values. Still, critics note that neither Schumer nor Indivisible has explicitly addressed the Communist sponsorship, fueling suspicions about ideological alignment among the protest’s most radical factions.
The No Kings website itself omits any reference to CPUSA, portraying the effort as a grassroots stand against dictatorship while hiding who’s funding it. Yet images circulating online show Antifa flags and communist symbols at previous rallies, adding to concerns that the movement’s anti-Trump branding masks a deeper revolutionary agenda.
