Opponents of U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk rally around the world on Saturday to protest government actions on government layoffs, economic, human rights and other issues.
In the United States, more than 1,200 “Hand-On!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 organizations, including civil rights groups, labor unions, 2SLGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and election activists. Protest venues include the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the State Capitol and other locations in 50 other states.
Protesters attacked the Trump administration to thousands of federal workers, sealed the Social Security Agency’s field office, effectively shut down entire agencies, deport immigrants, reduce protections for trans people and cut federal protections for health programs.
The rally is also held around the world, including the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany and India.
Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, played a key role in the administration’s ruling to reduce the newly-established government efficiency department head. He said he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
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Paul Osadebe, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, spoke at the Washington protests, and attorneys for union housekeepers criticized Trump, Musk and others in the administration for not paying attention to the work federal employees do in creating “a benchmark for economic security and power for workers).
“Billionaires and oligarchs don’t value profits and power, they’re sure hell won’t value you, your life or your community,” he said. “And we see that they don’t care who they have to destroy or who they need to hurt to get what they want.”
In Massachusetts, thousands gather on Boston’s shared holding signs, including “Farewell to our democracy” and “The integration of diversity and fair integration makes America strong. In Ohio, hundreds of people gather in rainy conditions at the Columbus State Capitol.
Roger Broom, 66, a retiree in Delaware County, Ohio, said at a Columbus rally that he was a Reagan Republican but had been shut down by Trump.
“He tore the country apart,” Bloom said. “It’s just a dissatisfaction.”
Hundreds of people also appeared at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a few kilometers from Jupiter’s Trump Golf Course, where he spent the morning at the Senior Club Championship. People on both sides of PGA Drive are encouraging cars to tweet and chant scriptures to Trump.
“They need to get rid of our social security,” said Archer Moran of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“The list they need to get out of hand is too long,” Moran said. “It’s really surprising since these protests will take office soon.”
According to the White House, the president plans to play golf again on Sunday.
Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement: “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect eligible beneficiaries of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Meanwhile, the Democratic stance is providing social security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits to illegal foreigners, which will bankrupt these programs and weaken these Americans.”
Since Trump returned to office, radicals have held demonstrations nationwide against Trump or Musk on many occasions. But opposition movements have not yet produced a massive mobilization, such as the 2017 Women’s March, which will bring thousands of women to Washington, D.C. after Trump’s first inauguration or a demonstration of Black Lives Matter, or erupt in multiple cities after George Floyd’s 2020 killing.
