Inflatable costumes used to deflate tensions at rallies against Trump, in photos
Demonstrators wear inflatable costumes and carry signs during a No Kings protest, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Original Publication Date: October 21, 2025 8:11AM
Publication Updated: October 21, 2025 9:35AM
Protesters have taken to wearing oversized inflatable costumes to deflate tensions and draw attention at rallies against Trump administration’s policies. Crowds across the U.S. and abroad rallied Saturday during “No Kings” demonstrations against what they call a slide into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. Republicans dismissed the gatherings as “Hate America” rallies, but many had a festive feel. The trend began several weeks ago in Portland, Oregon, when a protester showed up at nightly protests wearing an inflatable frog costume. Now, crowds in that city that gather daily and nightly outside an immigration facility have further embraced the absurd, donning inflatable frog, unicorn, axolotl, dinosaur and banana costumes.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A protester wearing an inflatable frog costume and waving an American flag takes part in a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)Demonstrators wear inflatable costumes and carry signs during a No Kings protest, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)People wearing costumes protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, at right, on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)A protester dressed in a costume watches as Department of Homeland Security officers detain a protester outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)Demonstrators in costumes hold placards during a protest outside the U.S. embassy, in London, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)A protester wears a blow-up mushroom costume during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)Angee Murray waves an Amercian flag during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)People walk across the Morrison Bridge during a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)Protesters march through downtown San Francisco as part of the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Terry Chea)People take part in a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)Demonstrators in inflatable costumes rally on Pennsylvania Avenue during a No Kings protest in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)People take part in a “No Kings” protest Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)An attendee inflates their costume during a No Kings protest, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)People dressed in inflatable costumes protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Ill., Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)People in clown costumes participate in a “No Kings” protest march in Portland, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
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