Dozens of American citizens residing in Costa Rica organized a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in San José, expressing their opposition to what they describe as monarchical tendencies exhibited by President Donald Trump.

The gathering took place on a Saturday morning, and the demonstrators, many of whom align with the Democratic Party, called for the president’s removal from the White House, alleging violations of the law stemming from his policies.

The central message of the protest was captured in the slogan "No a los Reyes" (No to the Kings), directed at a military parade sanctioned by Trump to mark the anniversary of the United States Army's founding, coinciding with his 79th birthday.

Kathy Rothschild, one of the movement's organizers and a member of Democrats Abroad Costa Rica, stated, "Trump celebrates a military parade as if he were a monarch, acting above the law.

That is why we are here: to resist and firmly tell him that he cannot do this."

The protesters carried signs and placards to vocalize their discontent towards the Trump administration.

While the demonstration proceeded peacefully, news outlets in the United States reported on a violent incident involving the fatal shooting of a state congresswoman and her husband, alongside injuries to another Democratic parliamentarian from Minnesota.

This attack was characterized by Governor Tim Walz as a "selective act of political violence."

In reaction to the congressional shooting, Rothschild expressed her concerns for the safety of fellow Democrats in the United States, acknowledging that while she felt secure in Costa Rica, she was apprehensive about the risks faced by those opposing Trump’s policies.

Protesters condemned the Trump administration's decision to host a military parade on the grounds that it resembled displays seen in anti-democratic regimes, specifically referencing military parades in Russia and North Korea.

Bertilla Baker, another participant, criticized both Trump’s actions and the Republican Party, alleging that the president operates without checks and balances, moving the country away from democratic principles.

She remarked, "The United States is becoming a fascist state.

Gradually, we are walking towards autocracy since Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, and it’s getting worse.

The Republican Party has bowed down to him as if he were a king."

Rothschild emphasized that the protest aimed to showcase that not all Americans agree with Trump's policies, particularly concerning immigration.

She condemned Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to manage protests in Los Angeles in response to anti-immigration raids, which has drawn legal challenges.

A judge ruled against Trump, ordering that control of the National Guard be returned to the state of California, deeming the deployment illegal.

Rothschild articulated, "He is breaking the law, and we are here to tell him he is not the king of the country; he is an elected official and must adhere to the rules."

Additionally, Lydia Barrow Hankins raised concerns regarding Trump’s threats to cut Social Security benefits for expatriates living abroad unless they return to the United States.

She stated, "We have paid to retire and live in Costa Rica, but Trump is saying that if you live overseas, you cannot receive it, which is ridiculous."

Hankins conveyed a sense of vulnerability regarding their rights, expressing embarrassment over Trump's treatment of U.S. allies in Europe and Latin America.

Similar demonstrations took place across the United States and in other countries that Saturday, reflecting a unified dissent against the Trump administration's policies and leadership style.