Large trucks, RVs, and cars are currently gathering in the hundreds outside of Washington as part of a rally to protest COVID-19 restrictions in the coming days.

The "People's Convoy", which began in California and drew people from all over the country, is demanding an end to COVID restrictions, and was inspired by the "Freedom Convoy" protests that took place in Canada.

US President Joe Biden had signaled in his State of the Union speech last Tuesday that the United States was entering a new, more controlled phase of the pandemic, without business lockdowns or school closures, which largely undermined the convoy's message, as US cities have begun to decrease mask mandates and pandemic measures.

So far, more than 100 18-wheelers have amassed with other vehicles at a racetrack 130 km from downtown Washington. The protest said it does not plan on entering "DC proper", but one protestor describing himself as the "lead trucker" said he would drive his truck into the heart of Washington.

"DC, the government, whomever, can claim that they have all this opposition for us waiting in DC," the trucker said, adding "But that flag on the back of my truck will go down to Constitution Avenue between the White House and the Washington Monument."