Nick Shirley Confronts Protesters at New York City No Kings Rally Against Trump

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Nick Shirley Confronts Protesters at New York City No Kings Rally Against Trump

Nick Shirley heads into the heart of the No Kings protest in New York City, where demonstrators gather to oppose what they view as authoritarian overreach under President Trump. As soon as protesters recognize him as a Trump supporter, tensions explode, masked activists follow him through Union Square, screaming accusations of fascism and racism. Some engage in surprisingly civil debates about illegal immigration, ICE enforcement, and the definition of fascism itself, while others resort to name-calling and intimidation. One European protester draws comparisons between Trump and Hitler, another discusses Satanism and religious freedom, and Savannah Hernandez makes an appearance to share her own encounters. Through chaos, confrontation, and occasional moments of genuine dialogue, Nick captures the raw emotion and ideological clash defining American politics in real time.

October 18, 2025

Arriving at the No Kings Protest

Nick Shirley arrives at the No Kings protest in New York City with thousands watching live. Within moments of his arrival, tensions begin to rise as protesters recognize him. A group of paid protesters, as Nick describes them, starts following him around Union Square. One woman with a speaker has her battery die, prompting Nick to joke about her IQ matching the store she'd need to visit for a replacement.

The atmosphere quickly shifts from curious to confrontational. Nick is approached by multiple people demanding to know why he's being followed. When he explains he supports Trump, cheers erupt from some while others begin screaming in opposition. One protester yells profanities while another holds a sign reading "New Kirks" in reference to Charlie Kirk, who recently passed away.

Confrontations and Conversations

Throughout the protest, Nick engages with dozens of individuals. Some conversations turn productive, like when he speaks with a young man about ICE enforcement. The man expresses concern about masked individuals aggressively removing illegal immigrants from their homes. Nick argues that if people comply with law enforcement, force wouldn't be necessary, while the protester pushes back about creating an ideological enforcement system.

Other encounters are less civil. Multiple protesters scream "fascist," "white supremacist," and "racist" at Nick despite him being accompanied by Latino and Black friends. One woman repeatedly shouts "f*** you" without explaining why. Another protester tells Nick he's "going straight to hell," prompting him to note the irony since he thought they were all atheists.

The European Perspective on Fascism

One of the most substantial conversations occurs with a European man who claims his father lived through the Nazi regime. He draws detailed parallels between Trump's first nine months and Hitler's early days in power, arguing that Trump has actually done more damage in nine months than Hitler did initially. The man emphasizes that the Nuremberg laws didn't begin until 1935, two years after Hitler took power, and that mass deportations came even later.

When Nick admits he doesn't know much about World War II history in those specific years, the protester uses this as evidence of poor American education. He argues that Republicans intentionally keep Americans uneducated because, as Trump allegedly said, "I love uneducated people." The conversation includes a math quiz where the protester challenges Nick on percentages, suggesting this demonstrates the education gap between American and European students.

Jeffrey Epstein Questions

Another protester confronts Nick about Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The man repeatedly asks how long it would take Nick to figure out someone was a pedophile if he were friends with them. He emphasizes that it took Trump 25 years to distance himself from Epstein, suggesting this reveals something sinister about Trump's character. Nick responds that he would recognize it immediately if he saw a minor in an inappropriate situation, but the protester isn't satisfied with this answer.

Immigration and ICE Enforcement Debate

The immigration debate surfaces repeatedly throughout the day. When Nick states he supports ICE enforcement, protesters become visibly angry. One person wearing a jacket covered in pins—including support for Palestine, Black Lives Matter, vaccines, and a Satanic pentagram—engages in a calmer discussion. This individual explains their support for Satanism as "spicy atheism" and a movement for religious rights rather than actual devil worship.

When asked about Trump donating billions to Israel, Nick acknowledges this happens under every president and that he doesn't agree with it. The protester then questions Nick about ICE arresting people of color indiscriminately. Nick counters this by explaining he went on an ICE ride-along for a video and saw that agents work from a database with photos, current status, and country of origin for each person they apprehend.

Savannah Hernandez Makes an Appearance

Fellow journalist Savannah Hernandez from Turning Point USA appears during the protest, explaining she's been getting B-roll footage. She shares that two "boomers" approached her claiming Charlie Kirk was a racist anti-Semite who didn't deserve to die but was a huge racist. Savannah expresses frustration at protesters who don't even know why they're upset, marching against "kings" while exercising the very freedoms that wouldn't exist under actual monarchy.

Russia-Ukraine War Discussion

One protester challenges Nick about the 70,000 children Russia has allegedly kidnapped from Ukraine. Nick agrees this is horrendous and that Russia is 100% the aggressor. When asked what should be done to end the war, Nick admits he doesn't have the perfect solution since he's not in those negotiation rooms. The protester becomes frustrated, demanding Russia should leave Ukraine, return the kidnapped children, and compensate for the million Russian people who have died. Nick agrees completely and mentions he traveled to Ukraine himself to see the situation firsthand.

A Supporter Emerges

Not everyone at the protest opposes Nick's presence. One man creates a sign reading "Nick Shirley Protects Free Speech" (though he misspells the last name). He explains he's been watching Nick's content and appreciates his efforts to promote conversation and free speech. When a Black protester earlier claimed "her people" were being attacked by Trump, this Black supporter stands with Nick and explains he doesn't feel attacked at all. He emphasizes this is America, the land of the free, where everyone can express themselves.

The Satanist Perspective

One of the more unusual conversations involves a protester wearing a jacket absolutely covered in pins representing various causes. The jacket includes support for education as a right, Palestine, Black Lives Matter, vaccines, autism awareness, LGBTQ+ rights, and prominently features a Satanic pentagram. When Nick asks about the Satan symbol, the protester explains that Satanism isn't actually a religion but rather an atheistic movement supporting religious rights for all people. They describe it as "spicy atheism" and emphasize they don't actually believe in Satan—it's merely a symbol used to advocate for separation of church and state.

This protester carries a sign saying "Kick Your Local Fascist." When Nick mentions that other protesters have been calling him a fascist all day simply for supporting Trump, this individual surprisingly disagrees and says they don't think Nick is a fascist. The conversation remains civil throughout, with both parties respectfully disagreeing on various policy positions while maintaining mutual respect.

Near-Physical Altercations

The day isn't without moments that nearly turn physical. One man who recognizes Nick from a previous drag queen story hour event follows him aggressively, calling him a "child molester" repeatedly. The situation escalates with the man getting in Nick's face before others intervene to separate them. Another protester touches Nick multiple times despite being asked to stop, leading to heated exchanges about personal space and consent.

At one point, a man with a pimp cane appears to try to bring peace to an escalating situation. The crowd becomes increasingly agitated, with some protesters attempting to play Disney music on their phones, apparently believing this will prevent the footage from being posted online due to copyright issues. Nick explains this strategy doesn't actually work, especially when everyone is yelling so loudly the music can't be heard.

Civil Discourse Moments

Despite the chaos, several genuine conversations occur. One young man expresses concern about the breakdown of political norms and the erosion of democratic institutions. He discusses Trump giving "golden shares" in American companies to himself, weaponizing the Justice Department, and dangling specific remedies toward New York Mayor Eric Adams, who the protester believes should be in jail. He argues that Trump is taking away everything that makes America great, including the immigrant contributions that made the country wealthy and the free trade that created global alliances.

Nick engages with this individual respectfully, though protesters around them continuously interrupt with screaming and profanity. The man acknowledges that at protests, you'll always find "crazy people," but insists most Americans are genuinely concerned about what's happening. He carries an American flag because he loves America and believes Trump is undermining the country's foundational principles.

The Final Interview

As Nick prepares to wrap up his day at the protest, he conducts one final interview with a Hispanic woman who initially yelled at him earlier. She explains she's at the protest because she refuses to be complicit with what she views as an authoritarian government. As a woman and a Hispanic person, she feels particularly compelled to speak out. When Nick asks why so many people became immediately angry at his presence, she suggests that coming to an event knowing you hold opposite beliefs and then streaming it is naturally going to provoke strong reactions from people who are emotionally invested in the cause.

Reflections on Free Speech

Throughout the stream, Nick repeatedly emphasizes that he's simply documenting what's happening and having conversations with people. He notes that by streaming everything live, no one can misinterpret what was said—viewers can see exactly what happens in real time and form their own opinions. He promotes his "Awake is the New Woke" merchandise and encourages viewers to become channel members to support his work and access additional content.

The day demonstrates the intense polarization in American politics, where simply showing up to ask questions while supporting the opposite side can trigger accusations of fascism, racism, and violence. Yet it also shows moments where civil discourse remains possible, where people can disagree fundamentally while treating each other with basic respect. Nick navigates both extremes, maintaining his composure even when surrounded by hostile crowds, while genuinely engaging with those willing to have substantive conversations.

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