The Ben Shapiro Show
Episode 2299 – Old White People Rally Against KINGS!
Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro, The Daily Wire
Overview
In this episode, Ben Shapiro dissects the nationwide “No Kings” rallies—mass protests predominantly comprising older white Americans opposing perceived executive overreach, particularly by President Trump. Shapiro uses the event to critique Democratic hypocrisy regarding the expansion of executive power, highlight cultural spectacle and media coverage, and lampoon progressive figures and protest attendees. The episode also covers developments in the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict, and features commentary on recent political and cultural events.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The “No Kings” Rallies: Who, Why, and Ben’s Take
- Shapiro opens with mockery:
“What do you call 7 million old white people gathering all over the country? Not a Barry Manilow reunion tour.” [00:35]
- Notes the overwhelming participation of elderly white Americans, referencing Axios reports of “one of the largest single day demonstrations in American history,” but claims these protests were ultimately ineffectual and quickly forgotten.
- Critiques protestors’ supposed opposition to executive overreach as hypocritical, citing Democratic presidents’ expansions of power:
“It is the Democratic Party ... which writ large, has expanded the power of the executive branch wholesale over the course of the last century.” [02:10]
- Mocks organizers, costumes (unicorns, lobsters, inflatable chickens), and suggests rallies lacked seriousness:
“A rally is truly serious when people dress up as inflatable unicorns.” [06:12]
2. Media & Celebrity Participation: Satire and Critique
- Lampoons media coverage, especially MSNBC:
“When we show footage from MSNBC, they should be thanking us because we are tripling their audience.” [06:23]
- Uses John Cusack and Robert De Niro as examples of out-of-touch celebrity involvement, turning their criticisms against Trump into punchlines:
“I needed to hear from the guy who was last relevant when he was standing outside an apartment complex holding a boombox...” (re: Cusack) [07:53]
“Robert De Niro ... went from the star of Godfather to ... apparently turning into a hobbit.” [08:40] - De Niro’s comparison of Trump advisor Stephen Miller to a Nazi draws sharp rebuke:
“There’s nothing quite like Robert De Niro calling Stephen Miller, who happens to be Jewish. A Nazi.” [10:35]
3. Democratic Politicians at the Rallies
- Highlights appearances by Hakeem Jeffries, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, J.B. Pritzker, and others:
- Hakeem Jeffries: Frames rallies as “as American as motherhood, baseball and apple pie.” Shapiro mocks:
"I think that he's gonna need a waiver from his own party to talk about motherhood..." [15:24]
- Elizabeth Warren: Trots out her “persist” mantra.
- Bernie Sanders: Asserts protests are about “loving America.”
“I can't take him seriously. And nothing you do can make me take him seriously because he's not a serious person.” [19:06]
- Tina Smith: Describes “joy and solidarity” at rallies. Shapiro mocks the crowd’s whiteness and musical tastes.
- Hakeem Jeffries: Frames rallies as “as American as motherhood, baseball and apple pie.” Shapiro mocks:
- Notes heavy presence of non-American flags (Palestinian, Mexican, Ecuadorian) at rallies purportedly about “American” values.
4. Radical & Violent Elements
- Notes presence of antifa-aligned protestors and even explicit expressions of violence (e.g., a teacher says she would kill Stephen Miller if she could [29:55]).
- Discusses incidents in Portland, costumes referencing violence, and notes Antifa pride among some organizers.
5. Trump’s Response
- Shares Trump soundbites dismissing the rallies as “a joke” and not representative:
“When you look at those people, those are not representative of the people of our country.” [32:22]
- Trump doubles down:
“I am not in fact a king. That is silly.” [32:49]
- Highlights a crude Trump GIF posted on Truth Social depicting him dropping excrement from an F-22 labeled “King Trump” onto protestors:
“I guess the protests got their demand and the free Metamucil happened.” [33:07]
6. “Resistance” Culture & Left-Wing Media
- Satirizes Jimmy Kimmel segment where drag queen Trixie Mattel reads Eric Trump’s book to children:
“The brilliance of the resistance cannot be overstated. I mean, truly, it is astonishing.” [34:31]
7. New York Mayoral Race: Progressive Extremists & Terror Links
- Shapiro slams Zoran Mamdani as “a terrorist-supporting Marxist,” details his and Linda Sarsour’s activist ties.
- Mocks the inability of the Democratic Party to distance itself and urges Curtis Sliwa to “drop out” to consolidate opposition.
- Criticizes ongoing normalization of radical associations within Democratic ranks.
8. International Affairs
Middle East (Gaza Strip & Israel–Hamas Ceasefire)
- Critiques pro-Palestinian organizers at “No Kings” rallies for siding with Hamas.
- Reviews ceasefire details; accuses Hamas of immediate violations and underscores need for Arab-state involvement in peace enforcement.
- Trump proposes “Freedom Place”—regional resettlement of Gazans, leveraging development and investment as solutions.
Ukraine
- Reports Trump pushing Zelensky to accept a peace deal with Russia and possibly echoing Putin’s talking points; critics see US pressure shifting against Ukraine.
Latin America
- Trump’s administration ends subsidies to Colombia, accuses its president of being a “drug leader,” and hints at CIA focus on Venezuela to check Maduro's grip on power.
Odd News
- Relates a brazen jewel theft at the Louvre, poking fun at French pronunciation and likening it to “The Italian Job.”
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- [00:35] Ben Shapiro: “What do you call 7 million old white people gathering all over the country? Not a Barry Manilow reunion tour.”
- [02:10] "The expansion of the executive branch of government has been non stop."
- [06:12] “A rally is truly serious when people dress up as inflatable unicorns.”
- [07:53] (On John Cusack) “I needed to hear from the guy who was last relevant when he was standing outside an apartment complex holding a boombox.”
- [15:24] (On Jeffries) "I think that he's gonna need a waiver from his own party to talk about motherhood..."
- [19:06] (On Bernie Sanders) “I can't take him seriously. And nothing you do can make me take him seriously because he's not a serious person.”
- [29:55] (Protester on Stephen Miller)
- Q: “So you're going to kill Stephen Miller?”
- A: “If I had a chance, yeah, I would.”
- [32:22] Donald Trump: “When you look at those people, those are not representative of the people of our country.”
- [33:07] Ben Shapiro: “I guess the protests got their demand and the free Metamucil happened.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Opening: Purpose, AARP Jokes, Event Size | 00:00–02:47 | | Ben on Executive Power & Historical Context | 01:00–03:50 | | Critiquing Protest Optics & Costumes | 04:00–06:30 | | MSNBC Unicorn Interview Clip | 06:12–06:30 | | Celebrity Critics: John Cusack & De Niro | 07:27–10:39 | | Hakeem Jeffries' Rally Remarks | 14:54–15:24 | | Elizabeth Warren ‘Persisting’ | 15:59–16:37 | | Bernie Sanders at Rally | 18:04–19:06 | | Flags at Rallies / Non-American Flags | 21:00–21:43 | | Ed Markey Wears Trans Flag | 22:01 | | Violent Rhetoric Among Protesters | 29:44–29:58 | | Trump Responds to Protests | 32:22–32:49 | | Jimmy Kimmel Segment w/ Drag Queen | 34:31–34:54 | | Zoran Mamdani and NY Mayoral Election | 36:37–41:30 | | Hakeem Jeffries on No Endorsement | 41:05–41:31 | | Gaza Ceasefire Violations / Middle East News | 41:30–48:11 | | Ukraine Peace Plan & Pressure on Zelensky | 49:00–50:46 | | Ending Gold Ad, South American Developments | 50:46–end |
Tone and Style
Shapiro’s tone throughout remains fast-paced, caustic, and sardonic, employing sarcasm, direct mockery, and biting humor (especially at the expense of Democrats, left-wing activists, and media outlets). He positions himself as the voice of reason and conservative principle amid “hysteria,” “silliness,” and perceived progressive hypocrisy. Serious topics—executive overreach, Middle East violence, global politics—are frequently undercut by ridicule of culture war excesses and protest theatrics.
Conclusion
This episode serves both as Ben Shapiro’s rebuttal to the left’s anti-Trump protest movement and a whirlwind roundup of significant political and cultural news. With his trademark rapid-fire delivery and sharp-edged commentary, Ben reinforces his thesis: the “No Kings” rallies are not a genuine grassroots movement against tyranny, but are, in his view, a performative, hypocritical, and largely ineffectual display by an aging progressive establishment, accompanied by opportunistic celebrities and radical agitators. Internationally, he paints an image of a Trump administration seeking “pragmatic” order while confronting the duplicity and violence of both foreign adversaries and domestic political opponents.