Fox News Host Questions Democrats’ Protest Effectiveness Ahead of Rallies

Fox News host Jesse Watters has publicly criticized the Democratic Party’s ability to mobilize protests effectively, just days before a series of anti-Trump demonstrations termed the No Kings protests. On Friday, Watters remarked that Democratic gatherings have often been associated with unrest, highlighting incidents such as the Black Lives Matter protests and unrest in cities like Portland. He expressed skepticism about the sincerity of these movements, suggesting they lack the authenticity seen in earlier Republican protests.

Watters, co-host of the show “The Five,” compared the upcoming protests to the Tea Party, a movement that emerged in 2007 as a response to then-President Barack Obama’s policies. He stated, “That was a legitimate protest movement. Democrats are trying to do their little Tea Party thing. Ours was a little more organic. This seems a little more astroturfed.” The Tea Party, while appearing grassroots, received significant funding from organizations such as Americans for Prosperity, founded by billionaire David Koch.

The No Kings rallies are set to take place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, and follow a significant wave of protests in June 2023. During those demonstrations, an estimated 5 million people participated across more than 2,000 cities, protesting what they viewed as authoritarian actions by the Trump administration. Organizers of the No Kings protests claim that the current political climate has worsened, citing increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and targeted actions against political figures like former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James as primary motivators for the protests.

In a statement regarding the anticipated protests, Republican Senator Roger Marshall expressed concern about potential violence, suggesting that the events may attract “paid actors, agitators, Pro-Hamas, and Antifa members.” He commented on the need for a strong police presence, saying, “We’ll have to get the National Guard out. Hopefully, it’ll be peaceful. I doubt it.”

With approximately 2,500 anti-Trump demonstrations expected on Saturday, there will be about 500 more cities participating compared to the June protests. Despite this, Watters remains unconvinced about the impact of the No Kings rallies, stating, “I don’t know if this has legs.”

As the country braces for these protests, the divide between perspectives on political mobilization continues to widen, with contrasting views emerging from both sides of the political spectrum.