- Thousands protested against President Trump and Elon Musk in Washington D.C. and across the U.S. on Saturday.
- Approximately 1,200 demonstrations were expected nationwide, opposing their government overhaul efforts.
- Protesters voiced concerns over Trump’s policies on immigration, tariffs, and potential cuts to social programs.
- Anti-Trump protests also took place in several European cities.
- Trump spent the day playing golf in Florida.
Thousands Join Anti-Trump, Anti-Musk Protests Across the United States
Washington, D.C. – Thousands of demonstrators descended upon Washington, D.C., and participated in an estimated 1,200 protests across the United States on Saturday, marking what organizers hoped would be the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk since their recent efforts to overhaul government and increase presidential power began.
Under overcast skies and light rain, a significant crowd gathered on the National Mall surrounding the Washington Monument. Organizers informed Reuters that they anticipated over 20,000 attendees at the rally in the nation’s capital. The event’s website indicated that approximately 150 activist groups had signed up to participate in the nationwide day of action, which included planned protests in all 50 U.S. states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.
Terry Klein, a retired biomedical scientist who traveled from Princeton, New Jersey, to attend the D.C. rally, expressed her concerns about Trump’s policies, stating they impacted “everything from immigration to the DOGE stuff to the tariffs this week, to education. I mean, our whole country is under attack, all of our institutions, all the things that make America what it is.”
The crowd at the National Mall steadily grew throughout the day. Many protesters carried Ukrainian flags, while others displayed Palestinian keffiyeh scarves and held signs advocating for a “Free Palestine.” Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives also took to the stage to criticize President Trump’s policies.
Wayne Hoffman, a 73-year-old retired money manager from West Cape May, New Jersey, voiced his worries about Trump’s economic policies, particularly his extensive use of tariffs. “It’s going to cost the farmers in the red states. It’s going to cost people their jobs – certainly their 401Ks. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars,” Hoffman explained.
Amidst the widespread opposition, a lone Trump supporter, Kyle, a 20-year-old intern from Ohio, stood at the edge of the Washington, D.C., rally, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and engaging in debates with protesters. He noted that while some interactions were hostile, most people were not overly aggressive.
Trump Spends Protest Day in Florida
While protests unfolded across the country, President Trump spent his Saturday in Florida. He was seen playing golf at his club in Jupiter before returning to his Mar-a-Lago estate in the afternoon.
Approximately four miles from Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, over 400 demonstrators gathered in sunny weather to voice their opposition. Passing drivers showed their support by honking their horns at the protesters, many of whom were dressed in pastel colors and khaki attire. One sign held by a demonstrator read, “Markets tank, Trump golfs.”
Concerns Over Social Programs and Government Efficiency
In Stamford, Connecticut, 84-year-old Sue-ann Friedman joined a protest with a handmade sign objecting to the administration’s proposed cuts to medical research funding. “I thought my marching days were over, and then we get somebody like Musk and Trump,” Friedman said.
Paul Kretschmann, a 74-year-old retired attorney also protesting in Stamford, stated it was his first time attending such an event. His primary concern was the potential gutting of Social Security and the loss of benefits. “I’m afraid that this is all part of a larger plan to dismantle the government and for Trump to maintain power,” Kretschmann added.
Concerns also focused on the impact of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, which has overseen significant job cuts within the federal workforce, including recent layoffs at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Several hundred people protested outside the Social Security Administration headquarters near Baltimore, a key target of the DOGE initiative, against potential cuts to benefits for the elderly and disabled.
Linda Falcao, a 64-year-old who will turn 65 in two months, told the crowd about her decades of contributions to Social Security and expressed her fear and anger over potential cuts.
White House Responds to Protests
White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston disputed the protesters’ claims that President Trump intended to cut Social Security and Medicaid. In an email statement, Huston asserted that Trump would always protect these programs for eligible beneficiaries and accused Democrats of wanting to extend benefits to undocumented immigrants, which she claimed would bankrupt the programs.
International Solidarity
Hours before the U.S. protests began, hundreds of anti-Trump Americans living in Europe gathered in cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London to express their opposition to President Trump’s sweeping changes to U.S. foreign and domestic policies.