Several hundred people, mostly American expatriates, gathered in Paris and Madrid on Saturday in support of the 'No King' day movement that is expected to draw large crowds in the U.S. against President Donald Trump's policies.

The demonstrations have been labelled by the president's Republican Party as “Hate America” rallies.

The protests come against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn is a slide toward American authoritarianism.

Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk's cuts in spring, then to counter Trump's military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition party movement.