In a historic show of dissent, more than 600,000 people rallied across all 50 U.S. states and in cities around the globe on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s sweeping policy agenda and the growing influence of billionaire Elon Musk. The demonstrations, branded "Hands Off!", were the largest coordinated protest action since Trump returned to the White House.
From Anchorage to Atlanta and even across international cities like London and Berlin, citizens united in opposition to policies targeting reproductive rights, immigration, federal workforce downsizing, trade tariffs, and social welfare programs. Many view the current administration’s moves as not just political but deeply personal and economically harmful.
Supported by more than 150 organizations, including civil rights groups, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans’ organizations, and election reform activists, the protests underscored a revived and diverse resistance movement that is gaining traction once again.
Nationwide Roar of Dissent
From Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and from Anchorage to Atlanta, demonstrators flooded the streets. Police in Atlanta estimated crowds of over 20,000, while tens of thousands surrounded the Washington Monument.
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Albany, NY: Protesters braved cold, wind, and rain to show up in the thousands.
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Los Angeles: A protester dressed as a character from The Handmaid’s Tale waved a flag reading, “Get out of my uterus.”
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Palm Beach Gardens, FL: Hundreds protested near Trump’s golf course, chanting slogans and encouraging drivers to honk in support.
Internationally, solidarity rallies took place in London, Berlin, Mexico, and Canada, with demonstrators expressing alarm at the global implications of Trump’s policies.
“What’s happening in America is everyone’s problem,” said Liz Chamberlin, a U.S.-British dual citizen attending a rally in London. “It’s economic lunacy… He is going to push us into a global recession.”
Targets of the Protest: Trump, Musk, and DOGE
A major focus of public ire was Elon Musk, the billionaire head of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), who now serves as chief of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
As Trump’s adviser, Musk has taken charge of cost-cutting measures, which the administration says will save billions. Critics, however, argue that the cuts come at a devastating cost to public services and the vulnerable.
Notable consequences of government downsizing:
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The IRS began laying off over 20,000 employees, nearly a quarter of its workforce.
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Concerns about delays or denials in Social Security and Medicare benefits.
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Accusations of targeting institutions and communities not aligned with Trump’s ideology.
Standing outside the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Linda Falcao, nearing retirement, declared:
“I’m terrified, I’m angry, I’m pissed… I want my money. I want my benefits!”
The crowd thundered in reply: “It’s our money!”
Demonstrators in Seattle held placards saying: “Fight the oligarchy.”
Economic Concerns and Trade Tariffs: “I’m Tariffied. Are You?”
Trump’s aggressive global tariffs were also a flashpoint. Protesters and economists alike worry these measures could spark inflation and possibly a global recession.
Placards in various cities read:
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“I’m tariffied. Are you?”
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“Fight the oligarchy”
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“Hands off our democracy”
In London, dual US-UK citizen Liz Chamberlin called the policies “economic lunacy,” warning:
“He is going to push us into a global recession.”
In Berlin, 70-year-old Susanne Fest described Trump’s governance as a “constitutional crisis,” adding bluntly, “The guy is a lunatic.”
“They’ve woken up a sleeping giant,” declared 71-year-old activist Graylan Hagler from the National Mall. “We will not sit down, we will not be quiet, and we will not go away.”
Diverse Voices, Common Fears
The protests drew Americans from all walks of life—mayors, artists, retirees, immigrants, and former Republicans—all voicing their alarm at what they see as a democracy under siege.
Key Voices from the Streets:
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Diane Kolifrath, 64, who traveled from New Hampshire with 100 others:
“This outrageous administration is causing us to lose our allies across the world and causing devastation to people here at home.”
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Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, warned:
“The attacks we’re seeing aren’t just political—they are personal… They’re trying to ban our books, slash HIV prevention funding, and criminalize our teachers, our families, and our lives.”
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Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston declared:
“I refuse to accept that my children could grow up in a world where immigrants like their grandma and grandpa are automatically presumed to be criminals.”
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Roger Broom, 66, a former Reagan Republican from Ohio:
“He’s tearing this country apart. It’s just an administration of grievances.”
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Shaina Kesner, 43, a painter from New York:
“I’m so angry. A bunch of privileged, white alleged rapists are controlling our country. It’s not great.”
The White House Responds
Despite the massive demonstrations, the Trump administration largely shrugged off the protests.
White House press assistant Liz Huston released a statement asserting:
“President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.”
She further accused Democrats of wanting to give these benefits to undocumented immigrants, which she claimed would “bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Meanwhile, President Trump spent the weekend at the Senior Club Championship in Jupiter, Florida, staying silent as the nation erupted in protest.
A Resurgent Resistance: What's Next?
Organisers of the “Hands Off!” rallies say this is only the beginning. What began as outrage is transforming into a coordinated and focused resistance movement that cuts across identities and focuses on fundamental rights—economic justice, healthcare, freedom of expression, and democratic integrity.
Deborah Doherty, who marched in San Jose with her husband, summed it up:
“Now people are kind of numb to it, which is itself frightening. All the cities need to show up.”
And on Saturday—they did.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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