Critics of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk gathered across the United States on Saturday to voice their dissent regarding the administration’s policies related to government reduction, the economy, human rights, and various other matters.
Over 1,200 “Hands Off!” protests were organized by more than 150 groups, which include civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans, and election activists. These demonstrations are scheduled to occur on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as at state capitols and additional locations in every state.
Protesters are condemning the Trump administration’s actions to terminate thousands of federal jobs, close Social Security Administration offices, effectively dismantle federal agencies, deport immigrants, reduce protections for transgender individuals, and cut federal funding for health programs.
Musk, an advisor to Trump and the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X, has been instrumental in government downsizing as the head of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency. He claims he is saving taxpayers billions.
At the Washington rally, Paul Osadebe, a lawyer with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a labor union representative, criticized Trump, Musk, and others in the administration for failing to recognize the essential contributions of federal workers in establishing “a baseline of economic security and power for working people.”
“Billionaires and oligarchs prioritize profits and power above all else, and they certainly do not value you, your life, or your community,” he stated. “What we are witnessing is their indifference to the destruction they cause in pursuit of their goals.”
In Massachusetts, thousands gathered on Boston Common, wielding signs that read, “Hands off our democracy,” “Hands off our Social Security,” and “Diversity, equity, inclusion makes America strong. Hands off!”
When approached for comments about the protests, the White House stated that “President Trump’s position is unequivocal: he will always safeguard Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for those who qualify. Meanwhile, Democrats are advocating for providing Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, jeopardizing these programs and harming American seniors.”
Activists have organized nationwide protests against Trump or Musk several times since the current administration began. However, the opposition movement has yet to achieve a large-scale mobilization akin to the Women’s March in 2017, which drew thousands of women to Washington, D.C., following Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter protests that surged in various cities after George Floyd’s death in 2020.
Organizers express hope that Saturday’s demonstrations will mark the largest turnout since Trump resumed office in January.
