More than 1,200 rallies are scheduled to allow Trump’s detractors to voice their disapproval. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut 200,000 of the 2.3 million federal positions it oversees.
WASHINGTON: As protests against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk’s plans to expand presidential authority and overhaul government began on Saturday, thousands of people poured into downtown Washington. According to organizers, over 20,000 people attended the rally at Washington’s National Mall, and over 1,200 demonstrations were planned across the United States. This is expected to be the largest single day of protest, giving Trump’s opponents a chance to express their disapproval in large numbers in response to a number of executive orders.
The event website states that about 150 activist groups have registered to take part. Protests were organized in Canada, Mexico, and all 50 states.
In Washington, amid overcast skies and a little drizzle, protesters lined Connecticut Avenue, a bustling route, waiting for buses to transport them downtown. They were carrying placards that said things like “Deport Musk” and “No Kings in the USA.”
Hundreds of people gathered early in front of the platform beneath the Washington Monument, including retired Princeton, New Jersey biomedical expert Terry Klein.
She claimed that she drove down to the event in order to voice her opposition to Trump’s policies on a variety of issues, including immigration, DOGE, this week’s tariffs, and education. “I mean, everything that makes America what it is—all of our institutions—is being attacked.”
According to David Madden, a 75-year-old retired trial lawyer and army veteran, he flew from Dayton, Ohio, to protest against the national injustice, the institutions being stolen from the American people, the judicial system’s confusion, and the reality that “we have a population that I believe is essentially racist.”
Over 200,000 of the 2.3 million federal employees have lost their jobs as a result of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team slicing through the US government with President Trump’s approval. The endeavor has occasionally been haphazard, necessitating the recall of necessary professionals.
Over 20,000 employees, or up to 25% of the Internal Revenue Service’s workforce, were laid off starting Friday.
Social Security is the primary objective
In protest of cuts to the agency that provides benefits to the elderly and disabled, several hundred people gathered on Saturday outside the headquarters of the Social Security Administration, a major DOGE target, outside Baltimore.
Following the agency’s recent announcement of 7,000 personnel layoffs and the termination of phone services for millions of claimants, the atmosphere was one of defiance and rage.
For weeks, DOGE personnel have been inside the structure. Hands off Social Security, Where Has My Country Gone?, FIRE DOGE!, and Send Musk to Mars were among the handcrafted placards held by several of the largely elderly throng.
In front of the audience, Linda Falcao, who will turn 65 in two months, explained that she has been contributing to the Social Security fund since she was sixteen.
She remarked, “I’m scared, I’m mad, I’m confused that this could happen to the United States.” “I’m devastated, but I do love America. I must have my money. I want my money back. I want my benefits.”
“It’s our money,” the audience chanted in response.
Liz Huston, the assistant press secretary for the White House, denied the demonstrators’ accusation that Trump intended to reduce Medicaid and Social Security.
“President Trump has made it clear that he would always defend Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare for those who qualify.
In an email, Huston stated, “The Democrats’ position is providing illegal aliens with Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Lawsuits arguing that Donald Trump has overreached himself by attempting to deport immigrants, remove government officials, and rescind transgender rights have limited much of his agenda.
With a series of executive orders and other policies that his detractors claim are in line with Project 2025, a deeply conservative political program to restructure government and strengthen presidential authority, Trump took office again on January 20.
Trump’s followers have praised his boldness, seeing it as essential to upending long-standing liberal interests.
European demos
Hundreds of anti-Trump Americans residing in Europe gathered in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London just hours before the protests in the US began to express their disapproval of the radical overhaul of US foreign and domestic policies.
About 200 people, primarily Americans, gathered on the Place de la Re publique in Paris, where they heard lectures and waved banners that said “Save Democracy,” “Feminists for Freedom Not Fascism,” “Rule of Law,” and “Resist Tyrant.”
Timothy Kautz, a spokesman for Democrats Abroad, stated in Frankfurt that “we have to show solidarity with all the demonstrations in a thousand cities today in the USA.” Jose Sanchez, a protester, claimed that Trump was a liar and that democracy was being destroyed.
Leave a Reply