Millions of people joined protests across all 50 U.S. states and several countries on Saturday, raising their voices against President Donald Trump and his senior advisor Elon Musk. The protests were organized by a pro-democracy movement under the name “Hands Off!”, calling it a fight against a “hostile takeover” of the government and people’s rights.
Why Are People Protesting?
According to the organizers, these mass protests were held to stop what they describe as a “billionaire power grab.” They accuse Trump and Musk of attacking American democracy, cutting essential public services, and targeting vulnerable communities.
The protestors have three main demands:
- Stop the takeover of the government by billionaires and end corruption in the Trump administration.
- Protect public services like Medicaid and Social Security, which are facing deep budget cuts.
- End the attacks on immigrants, transgender people, and other marginalized groups.
More than 1,400 rallies were held in places like state capitols, federal offices, parks, and city halls. Nearly 600,000 people signed up to participate, with demonstrations also taking place in major cities like London and Paris.
What Are Protesters Saying?
At the rally in Washington, DC, lawmakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Ilhan Omar criticized the Trump administration for behaving like a dictatorship and destroying democratic values. People carried signs reading “Hands Off Our Rights” and “Protect Our Constitution.”
Rep. Maxwell Frost called on citizens to protest, support mutual aid, and push for change through legal and political means. He warned of the “rise of authoritarianism” led by corrupt billionaires.
In Los Angeles, marchers shouted “Power to the People” and carried signs like “Hands Off Education” and “Resist, Resist.”
What Are the Issues?
Since returning to power, Trump’s administration has taken several controversial steps:
- Laid off thousands of federal workers, including those working in social services and election security.
- Cut funds to global aid programs and restructured the Social Security Administration, which supports over 73 million Americans.
- Launched harsh immigration policies, including mass deportation plans and increased arrests.
- Downplayed climate change, rolled back clean air and water protections, and weakened gun safety measures.
Elon Musk, who now leads the new Department of Government Efficiency, has supported many of these cuts. He has even bragged about shutting down foreign aid programs and dismissing the importance of global hunger relief efforts.
Concerns Over Free Speech and Civil Rights
The arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked after attending a protest, raised concerns about freedom of speech. Protesters and organizers say the current administration is punishing people for speaking out.
Labor Unions Fight Back
Leaders of major federal employee unions also joined the protests. Randy Erwin and Everett Kelley, presidents of two powerful unions, slammed Trump’s efforts to crush workers’ rights. They accused the administration of trying to destroy public service and remove collective bargaining rights.
Union leaders have filed lawsuits and promised to continue the fight through the courts and on the streets.
“They thought we were easy targets,” said Kelley. “But we will not be silenced. We will not bow down.”
Protests Largely Peaceful, But One Tense Moment
Most protests remained peaceful, but in Lafayette, Indiana, one incident occurred when a man retrieved a gun from his truck after clashing with protesters. Police said he didn’t point the gun at anyone and was later released.
