Former Democratic congressman Beto O’Rourke headlined a protest outside Dallas City Hall on Thursday afternoon that drew roughly 300 demonstrators opposed to President Donald Trump and Republican policies. Signs at the entrance included one reading “MAGA = Fascist” alongside a swastika, and speakers on stage addressed topics ranging from Jeffrey Epstein to data centers, mixing speeches with song.
A small counterprotest was kept at a distance by Dallas police.
Among the attendees was Bonnie, an activist in her 60s, who was asked why President Trump provokes such strong opposition. “I can’t stand the man. You cannot be a Christian while following that man,” she said. Asked about other Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. John Thune of North Dakota, Bonnie said, “If they allow him to do what he’s doing, they’re all in the same boat.”
Rick, another protester past retirement age, carried a sign reading “Conservatives Against Trump.” He described his own values as “small, limited government, a strong national defense and fiscal responsibility.” When asked whether the Democratic Party’s shift further left concerned him given those centrist principles, he said, “Clearly, both parties, both major parties, have become polarized.”
The word “fascism” appeared repeatedly on protest signs. When one attendee was asked what the term meant to him, he answered only, “If you don’t know then I can’t help you.”
A different tone among some conservatives
That open, forceful opposition to Trump and Republicans contrasted with the demeanor of several conservative Texans interviewed separately in Dallas, who described keeping their political views to themselves.
“At my son’s school, and around some friends, I just don’t bring up that I support Trump. It’s just not worth it,” said one woman, who asked not to be named. She said she has friends who send out two versions of Christmas cards each year — one with a MAGA theme, one without — and that she now only receives the MAGA version.
A man who works in the service industry said he avoids discussing his support for Trump at his job. “I can’t tell anyone at work that I like Trump. So, when it comes up, I just say that I’m a Bill Maher-style centrist,” he said, describing that label as the furthest right he feels comfortable expressing publicly.
Local Republican voters interviewed said they are anxious about the possibility that Texas could flip to Democrats this cycle, pointing to visible public support in the state for Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico compared with quieter backing for Republican nominee Ken Paxton.
