Meet the $4 billion dollar network funding america's anti-trump protests

Meet the $4 Billion Dollar Network Funding America’s Anti-Trump Protests

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1 min read
June 20, 2025

From Trenton to Seaside Heights. From Newark to Cape May, the recent protests against President Donald J. Trump appear to be a well-financed and coordinated national effort backed by a billion-dollar network.

A recent investigation by the Pearl Project, a nonprofit journalism initiative, claims to have identified 685 organizations as participants in recent nationwide anti-Trump protests, with combined annual revenues totaling approximately $3.7 billion.

On Saturday, June 14, 418 groups were reported as organizers for the #NoKings protests, which the research states were aligned with the Democratic Party. Many of the organizations held nonprofit status while acting under the banner of nonpartisan entities. According to the Pearl Project, these groups collectively maintain annual budgets estimated at $2.4 billion.

In addition to the #NoKings events, 267 other organizations have been involved in earlier protest movements under banners such as #TeslaTakedown, #HandsOff, and #MayDay. These groups reportedly account for $1.3 billion in annual revenues and include many of the same entities that participated in the June 14 events.

#NoKings BreakdownNumber of organizationsTotal annual revenuesExamplesPolitical leaning
Democratic National Committee affiliates and chapters102Not found yet
Political action committees16$1,106,056,014Friends of Bernie Sanders, Progressive Democrats of America and Vote BlueDemocratic
501(c)(5) labor union nonprofits18$19,417,250Lead organizer American Federation of TeachersDemocratic
501(c)(4) political nonprofits76$734,300,000ACLU, Indivisible Project, Third ActDemocratic
501(c)(3) nonprofits47$286,700,000Unitarian Universalist Association, Indivisible Civics Inc.Democratic
Other groups38unknownDemocratic
“Palestine Contingent”32$54,542,822Answer Coalition, Code Pink, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Party for Socialism and Liberation,Democratic
Chicago Coalition Against the Trump Agenda (many anti-Israel)89$168,840,458U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Freedom Road Socialist OrganizationDemocratic
Total # of groups that have organized #NoKings protests418$2,369,856,544
Additional #TeslaTakedown #HandsOff organizers since January 2025267$1,300,000,000

Among the organizations cataloged, 102 were identified as Democratic National Committee affiliates or chapters, while 76 were 501(c)(4) political nonprofits, including groups such as the ACLU, Indivisible Project, and Third Act. The research also listed 47 501(c)(3) nonprofits, 18 labor union nonprofits, and 16 political action committees, including Friends of Bernie Sanders and Vote Blue.

A “Palestine Contingent” of 32 organizations was noted for its participation, including Code Pink, the Answer Coalition, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. An additional 89 groups associated with the Chicago Coalition Against the Trump Agenda were also named, some of which were described as anti-Israel.

The Pearl Project stated that its findings aim to enhance transparency surrounding the protest industry and noted that further data collection is underway. The group is currently building a database to document organizations involved in anti-ICE protests and has invited the public to contribute information or suggestions to its ongoing research.

In its public statement, the Pearl Project acknowledged the presence of well-intentioned individuals participating in protests but emphasized its intent to document the supporting infrastructure behind these events.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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