WASHINGTON

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday criticized the "No Kings" rallies expected to take place across the US on Saturday, describing the event as a politically motivated gathering of far-left activists that he claimed promotes anti-American sentiment.

"Tomorrow, the Democrat leaders are going to join for a big party out on the National Mall," Johnson told reporters at the Capitol on the 17th day of the federal government shutdown.

"They're going to descend on our Capitol for their much anticipated, so-called 'No Kings' rally. We refer to it by its more accurate description, 'The Hate America Rally.' I'm not sure how anybody can refute that," he added.

His remarks came a day after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Americans to "peacefully" exercise their constitutional right to protest at the rallies and to rally opposition to what he called the Trump administration’s threats to democratic norms.

Johnson accused Democratic leaders of aligning with extreme elements.

"If you think about what's going to happen here tomorrow, you're going to bring together the Marxists, the socialists, the Antifa advocates, the anarchists, and the pro-Hamas wing of the far-left Democrat party," he said.

"That's the collection of voices that you'll hear tomorrow that the Democrats will go out and raise their hands with and cheer with."

Johnson went on to claim that the rally was not a celebration of democratic freedoms, but rather a "spectacle" designed to divide.

"Tomorrow, this rally is not about freedom. It's about the opposite for many of our Democrat colleagues, tomorrow is about really creating a spectacle," he said.

Organizers of the "No Kings" protests say they expect millions to rally nationwide on Saturday.