Bulwark Takes – As Millions Protested “No Kings,” Trump Did This
Host: The Bulwark (Will Saletan)
Date: March 30, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Bulwark Takes, hosted by Will Saletan, addresses the nationwide “No Kings” protests, highlighting widespread resistance to Donald Trump’s increasingly monarchical actions as president. Saletan breaks down how Trump’s recent conduct—placing his image and name on national symbols, defying long-standing legal norms, and demonstrating open contempt for constitutional checks—resembles that of a king or monarch, not a democratically elected leader. Using numerous clips from recent Trump appearances, Saletan argues that this dangerous trend is precisely what citizens are protesting against, underscoring the urgency for public pushback.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The “No Kings” Protests (00:39–01:24)
- Millions have participated in a third “No Kings” protest nationwide, emphasizing the urgency Americans feel about resisting Trump’s attempts to aggrandize presidential power.
- Host’s Framing: The stakes are significant—Trump is acting more king-like with each passing week, a development both "deadly serious" and "kind of cringe."
2. Trump’s Gold Obsession and Self-Naming (01:24–01:43)
- Trump decorates the White House with gold trim, boasts about “the real stuff,” and refers to the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
- Quote: “See, I'm a gold person. It's all real stuff…which is what this building deserves.” — Donald Trump (01:24)
3. Trump’s Name and Image on National Symbols (01:43–04:50)
- Trump pushes through new coin designs featuring his face (including a $1 coin and a gold 250th-anniversary coin).
- The Commission of Fine Arts, appointed by Trump, flouts a 150-year-old law that bars living persons from U.S. currency.
- Quote: “Putting the face of your leader on coins is what monarchies do…It’s literally how you treat a king.” — Will Saletan (03:14)
- The Treasury also announces Trump’s signature will go on U.S. paper money—a historic first.
4. Trump’s Courts and Cabinet: “You Can Do Anything You Want” (04:50–05:26)
- In a cabinet meeting, Trump’s envoy (Steve Witkoff) affirms:
Quote: “You can do anything you want.” — Steve Witkoff (04:57) - Saletan frames this moment as evidence of sycophancy and the kingly aura around Trump.
5. Hypocrisy on Mail-In Voting (05:26–06:42)
- Trump condemns mail-in ballots as “mail in cheating”—except when he uses them himself.
- When challenged about this, he claims, “Because I’m President of the United States…I did a mail in ballot,” despite being present during early voting in Florida.
- Quote: “The rules that he applies to little people don’t apply to him…and that’s the least of it.” — Will Saletan (06:42)
6. Attacks on the Judiciary (07:11–08:17)
- Trump calls for Congress to “crack down on rogue judges…they’re criminals.”
- Rages at Supreme Court Justices he appointed for decisions he dislikes:
Quote: “Two of the people that voted for [the decision], I appointed, and they sicken me. They sicken me because they’re bad for our country.” — Donald Trump (07:55)
7. Demonizing the Press (08:38–08:52)
- Trump labels The New York Times as “fake” and says their reporting is “almost treasonous.”
- Quote: “That is not the way a president talks. That is the way a king talks.” — Will Saletan (08:52)
8. Sidestepping Congress on War (09:20–09:38)
- Trump refers to the ongoing conflict in Iran as a “military operation” rather than "war" to avoid Congressional approval.
- Quote: “As a military operation, I don’t need any approvals. As a war, you’re supposed to get approval from Congress…so I call it a military operation.” — Donald Trump (09:20)
9. Dismissing Congress on NATO (10:11–10:24)
- Trump asserts he can unilaterally pull America out of NATO:
Quote: “I don’t need Congress for that decision, as you probably know. I can make that decision myself.” — Donald Trump (10:11) - Saletan frames this as a further disregard for constitutional procedure.
10. Royal Friendships and Admiration for Kings (10:55–12:57)
- Trump disparages the British prime minister but calls the king “a great gentleman”—he “loves all the kings,” especially those in Saudi Arabia.
- He relays praise from both the Saudi and Russian “kings” (referring to the crown prince and Vladimir Putin) about his leadership.
- Quote: “Trump doesn’t love America. He loves his friends. His friends are rich people. Especially kings.” — Will Saletan (12:09)
11. Final Rallying Cry: Defending Democracy (12:57–13:46)
- Saletan concludes by stressing the point: Trump’s growing disregard for democratic norms is why the “No Kings” movement matters so deeply.
- Quote: “If we don’t want to be ruled by a king, we cannot stay home anymore. We have to come out and take down this king and his party every election from now until he’s gone.” — Will Saletan (13:32)
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
- “See, I'm a gold person. It's all real stuff…which is what this building deserves.”
— Donald Trump (01:24) - “The Trump Kennedy Center. He did that…he’s basically doing to our capital city what a dog does to a tree.”
— Will Saletan (01:43) - “Putting the face of your leader on coins is what monarchies do…It’s literally how you treat a king.”
— Will Saletan (03:14) - “You can do anything you want.”
— Steve Witkoff (04:57) - “Because I’m President…that’s why I used a mail in ballot.”
— Donald Trump (05:52) - “Bullshit. He used a mail in ballot because as he said, 'I’m President.' The rules that apply to little people don’t apply to him.”
— Will Saletan (06:42) - “We got rogue judges that are criminals. They’re criminals.”
— Donald Trump (07:28) - “They sicken me because they’re bad for our country.”
— Donald Trump (07:55) - “The New York Times, which is fake…It’s almost treasonous.”
— Donald Trump (08:38) - “As a military operation, I don’t need any approvals. As a war, you’re supposed to get approval from Congress…so I call it a military operation.”
— Donald Trump (09:20) - “I don’t need Congress for [leaving NATO]. I can make that decision myself.”
— Donald Trump (10:11) - “The king is a Great gentleman.”
— Donald Trump (11:18) - “A man that we just discussed, the king, the future king of Saudi Arabia. And I also love the king of Saudi Arabia. What a man he is.”
— Donald Trump (11:46) - “President Putin called me. He said, I can’t believe you stopped this one and this one, which are impossible.”
— Donald Trump (12:50) - “We say no kings because we have a president who thinks he is a king…If we don’t want to be ruled by a king, we cannot stay home anymore.”
— Will Saletan (13:32)
Episode Structure by Timestamps
- 00:39–01:24: Introduction to the “No Kings” protests; Trump’s royal behavior.
- 01:24–04:50: Trump’s name and face on coins and buildings; breaking historic norms.
- 04:50–06:42: Cabinet sycophancy; mail-in ballot hypocrisy.
- 06:42–08:17: Attacking the judiciary; disrespect for court independence.
- 08:38–09:38: Demonizing the press; military actions without Congress.
- 09:38–11:18: Justifying unilateral action in foreign policy, especially NATO.
- 11:18–12:57: Trump’s love for kings and autocrats abroad.
- 12:57–13:46: Saletan’s conclusion: preserving democracy means rejecting “kings.”
Tone and Takeaways
Saletan uses a tone that blends urgent warning with biting sarcasm, often highlighting the absurdity and severity of Trump’s actions through incredulous commentary and direct evidence. The core message: With millions in the streets protesting against authoritarian tendencies, it’s crucial for Americans to defend democracy against a president who increasingly behaves like a king.