On Saturday, thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., and cities across the United States for what was expected to be the largest day of protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The demonstrations were part of over 1,200 rallies, opposing their efforts to supposedly overhaul the government and increase presidential power.
Despite the gloomy weather and light rain, people filled the grassy area surrounding the Washington Monument. Organizers estimated more than 20,000 people would attend the rally at the National Mall. About 150 activist groups had signed up to participate, with protests planned in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.
Among the protesters was Terry Klein, a retired biomedical scientist from Princeton, New Jersey, who drove to the rally to voice her concerns about Trump’s policies on a variety of issues, including immigration, tariffs, and education. She expressed that she felt the country and its institutions were under attack.
As the day went on, the crowd continued to grow, with some waving Ukrainian flags, others wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, and some holding “Free Palestine” signs. Several U.S. House of Representatives Democrats took the stage to criticize Trump’s policies.
Wayne Hoffman, a 73-year-old retired money manager from New Jersey, shared his worries about Trump’s economic policies, particularly his use of tariffs. He predicted that farmers in red states and everyday citizens would suffer financially, losing jobs and significant amounts of money from their retirement accounts.
Kyle, a 20-year-old intern from Ohio, was a rare Trump supporter at the rally. Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, he engaged with protesters, noting that most were not overly hostile, though a few did swear at him.
While the protests were taking place in Washington, Trump spent the day in Florida, golfing at his club in Jupiter before returning to his Mar-a-Lago estate. In West Palm Beach, four miles away from Mar-a-Lago, over 400 demonstrators gathered under sunny skies. Drivers passing by honked in support of the protesters, with one sign reading, “Markets tank, Trump golfs.”
In Stamford, Connecticut, Sue-ann Friedman, 84, held up a bright pink, handmade sign opposing the administration’s proposed cuts to medical research funding. She shared that she thought her days of marching were behind her, but the actions of Trump and Musk had drawn her back into protest. Paul Kretschmann, a 74-year-old retired attorney, also participated for the first time, voicing his concern that Social Security might be cut and that the government was being dismantled to keep Trump in power.
Under Trump’s leadership and with Musk’s backing, the government has reduced its workforce, with over 200,000 jobs cut from the federal government. Recently, the IRS began laying off more than 20,000 workers. In Maryland, hundreds gathered outside the Social Security Administration to protest cuts to the agency, which provides benefits to the elderly and disabled. One protester, Linda Falcao, who is about to turn 65, expressed her anger and fear that her benefits could be taken away after paying into the system for decades.
The White House disputed claims that Trump intended to cut Social Security and Medicaid. White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston stated that Trump’s position was clear: he would always protect these programs for eligible beneficiaries.
Despite facing lawsuits challenging his actions, Trump has continued his aggressive agenda since taking office in January 2025, enacting a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping the government. His critics argue that this reflects the ideals of Project 2025, a conservative political initiative aimed at consolidating presidential power. However, his supporters argue that these actions are necessary to challenge entrenched liberal interests.
Ahead of the U.S. protests, hundreds of anti-Trump Americans in Europe held rallies in cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London to protest Trump’s domestic and foreign policy overhauls.
