WASHINGTON D.C, USA – Tens of thousands of opponents of US President Donald Trump and his adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, gathered across the United States on April 5, 2025, to take part in the largest single-day mobilization against the administration’s sweeping changes to the government and its expansion of presidential authority.
More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” rallies were planned nationwide, with organizers estimating that over 250,000 people participated.
The protests spanned all 50 states, with major events held at the National Mall in Washington, DC, and in cities including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
In Washington, DC, the crowds voiced their frustration over the Trump administration’s executive actions and the restructuring led by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
These reforms have resulted in the elimination of over 200,000 federal positions and significant cuts to benefits, particularly within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration.
“This is one of the biggest demonstrations we’ve seen since Trump began his second term, and it’s perhaps indicative of the rising frustration among Americans,” said Al Jazeera reporter Mike Hanna.
He noted the protests’ diversity, with participants from various age groups and backgrounds coming together to voice their opposition.
While organizers acknowledged that immediate change might not result from the protests, they emphasized that the demonstrations served as an important moment to show that many Americans are against Trump’s agenda.
The protests also marked a significant pushback against what protesters perceive as an attempt to dismantle public services and erode workers’ rights.
In Chicago, thousands of union members gathered to demand that Trump and Musk “hands off” public services and workers’ rights.
“These people are concerned about their jobs,” said Al Jazeera’s John Hendren, reporting from the rally in downtown Chicago.
“Their message is clear: ‘hands off.’”
In New York, demonstrators gathered in Bryant Park, with signs reading “Unplug Elon” and “I can only write this because there used to be a Department of Education.”
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, addressed the crowd in Washington, criticizing the government’s actions against marginalized communities.
“The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal,” Robinson said.
Similar rallies were held in cities like Atlanta, Boston, Miami, and Charlotte, where participants called for action on issues such as immigration reform, healthcare, and workers’ rights.
The protests also sparked international rallies, with US expatriates and local supporters organizing events in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London.
In Paris, around 200 demonstrators gathered at Place de la République, with banners calling for resistance to Trump’s policies and supporting the rule of law.
Timothy Kautz, a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad, highlighted the importance of global solidarity, saying, “We have to show solidarity with all the demonstrations in a thousand cities today in the USA.”
Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the main organizing groups, added, “This is an enormous demonstration that is sending a very clear message to Musk, Trump, and congressional Republicans: we don’t want their hands on our democracy.”
The White House defended the administration’s recent actions. Assistant press secretary Liz Huston stated, “President Trump’s position is clear: He will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.”
Huston argued that the Democrats’ stance of providing benefits to illegal immigrants would bankrupt these programs, negatively impacting American seniors.
Pro-Palestinian groups also participated in the Washington demonstration, protesting the US administration’s continued support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the crackdown on campus protests related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
