‘Hands Off’ Protests Across US: Thousands Protest Against Trump-Musk Policies
In what is being described as the largest nationwide protest since Donald Trump began his second term as President, tens of thousands of Americans took to the streets on Saturday under the banner of the “Hands Off” protests. Protests were reported in all 50 states, with over 1,200 events held from coast to coast.
The protests were aimed at President Trump’s controversial policy decisions and the growing influence of Elon Musk, who currently heads the Department of Government Efficiency. Participants voiced concerns over mass deportations, federal layoffs, curbs on transgender rights, and significant cutbacks in healthcare and social services.
Organised by a coalition of more than 150 groups—including civil rights bodies, LGBTQ+ organisations, labour unions, veterans, and voting rights advocates—the protests marked a critical moment of dissent in Trump’s second term.
“We’re here because the Trump administration is gutting the very institutions meant to protect the people,” said Carlos Medina, a civil rights activist attending the Los Angeles protest. “Elon Musk is treating the government like a corporation, and people are paying the price.”
In Seattle, protestors held signs reading “Fight the oligarchy” and condemned policies that they say are targeting the nation’s most vulnerable populations. In Boston, placards like “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security” dominated the city’s downtown as protesters marched against proposed cuts to federal benefits.
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The criticism of Elon Musk was especially pointed. A key advisor to Trump and a prominent tech billionaire, Musk has been accused by protestors of advancing corporate agendas over public welfare.
“Impeach Trump, Deport Musk,” read several signs at rallies in Atlanta, expressing frustration at what demonstrators perceive as unchecked power within the administration.
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu voiced her support for the protesters. “I don’t want my children to grow up in a world where dividing people becomes the new political strategy,” she said, calling the current policy environment “dangerous and regressive.”
This wave of protest is the first of its scale since the Women’s March in 2017 and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. It reflects a growing frustration among various communities with the Trump-Musk administration’s decisions since returning to power.
In response, the White House released a statement defending its actions. “President Trump remains committed to protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” it said, blaming Democrats for spreading misinformation and contributing to the country’s financial instability.
While Saturday’s protest concluded peacefully in most areas, organisers indicated this is just the beginning of a broader movement. More demonstrations are planned in the coming weeks as the opposition seeks to build momentum against what they claim is an increasingly authoritarian approach by the government.
