The United States is now bracing for a major wave of anti-Trump and anti-Musk protests under the “Hands Off!” banner. Organisers say more than 1,200 events are planned across all 50 US states on Saturday, in what’s being described as the largest coordinated protest since Donald Trump began his second term as US President.
Meanwhile, demonstrations were also seen across Europe.
What is ‘Hands Off!’ movement about?
The Hands Off! campaign is a nationwide mobilisation aimed at opposing sweeping policy changes under the Trump administration, with a particular focus on government downsizing, civil rights rollbacks, and economic inequality.
Backed by over 150 organisations, including MoveOn, Indivisible, labour unions, veterans’ groups, LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups, the protests are demanding that Trump and his inner circle stop undermining federal institutions and social protections.
According to The New York Times, activists are rallying against attempts to lay off thousands of federal workers, close Social Security offices, deport immigrants, slash healthcare spending, and reduce protections for transgender Americans.
Elon Musk’s role in protests
A key figure in the outrage is billionaire Elon Musk, who serves as head of the newly created department of government efficiency (DOGE). Musk, who also owns Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, is helping implement the administration’s downsizing agenda. He claims the effort is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
But many see Musk’s role as undemocratic and dangerous. As per news agency AP, Paul Osadebe, a lawyer for the US department of housing and urban development, said during Saturday’s European protest events, “Billionaires and oligarchs don’t value anything other than profit and power… and they sure as hell don’t value your life or your community.”
What’s happening in the US?
In the United States, the largest rally is expected in Washington, DC, at the National Mall. Protesters will gather at the Sylvan Theater from 11 am, with speeches beginning at noon. At least 12,500 people are expected in DC alone, with an estimated 250,000 expected nationwide.
The speaker lineup includes Maryland representative Jamie Raskin, Florida’s Maxwell Frost, Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees and Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
Signs from previous protests are expected to reappear, bearing slogans like “Hands off our democracy,” “Diversity, equity, inclusion makes America strong,” and “Hands off Social Security.”
What happened in Europe?
Ahead of the US events, protests erupted across several European cities. According to Reuters, demonstrations were held in Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London and Lisbon.
In Germany, Democrats Abroad organised rallies in Frankfurt and Berlin, where slogans read, “Shut up Elon, no one voted for you” and “Restore Democracy.”
In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la République holding signs like “Resist Tyrant” and “Save Democracy.” London demonstrators chanted, “Hands off Canada,” “Hands off Greenland,” and “Hands off Ukraine.”
Why now?
Protest organisers say the time to act is urgent. "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them," reads a statement on the Hands Off! website. "They're taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them."
New York Times reports that organisers believe Trump's economic agenda and rollback of rights are deeply interconnected. Leah Greenberg of Indivisible said, “Let’s talk about Trump’s economic attacks and attacks on our rights. They are not different things.”
Though Trump critics have staged demonstrations before, including on Inauguration Day earlier this year, none have reached the anticipated scale of today’s coordinated protests. The movement is being compared to the 2017 Women’s March and Black Lives Matter protests in terms of scope and significance.
While Trump’s supporters argue that his administration is delivering on promises to cut waste and bureaucracy, critics say the cuts come at the cost of democracy and basic rights. The White House, responding to the protests, stated that “President Trump will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” and accused Democrats of risking those benefits by extending them to undocumented immigrants, a claim widely disputed by advocacy groups, according to AP.
With tensions high and turnout expected to be strong, organisers hope today’s events will mark a turning point in building sustained public pressure. As Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers told the NYT, “Trump promised to help people get ahead—and he’s making life harder and worse.”
Meanwhile, demonstrations were also seen across Europe.
What is ‘Hands Off!’ movement about?
The Hands Off! campaign is a nationwide mobilisation aimed at opposing sweeping policy changes under the Trump administration, with a particular focus on government downsizing, civil rights rollbacks, and economic inequality.
Backed by over 150 organisations, including MoveOn, Indivisible, labour unions, veterans’ groups, LGBTQ+ advocates and civil rights groups, the protests are demanding that Trump and his inner circle stop undermining federal institutions and social protections.
According to The New York Times, activists are rallying against attempts to lay off thousands of federal workers, close Social Security offices, deport immigrants, slash healthcare spending, and reduce protections for transgender Americans.
Elon Musk’s role in protests
A key figure in the outrage is billionaire Elon Musk, who serves as head of the newly created department of government efficiency (DOGE). Musk, who also owns Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, is helping implement the administration’s downsizing agenda. He claims the effort is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
But many see Musk’s role as undemocratic and dangerous. As per news agency AP, Paul Osadebe, a lawyer for the US department of housing and urban development, said during Saturday’s European protest events, “Billionaires and oligarchs don’t value anything other than profit and power… and they sure as hell don’t value your life or your community.”
What’s happening in the US?
In the United States, the largest rally is expected in Washington, DC, at the National Mall. Protesters will gather at the Sylvan Theater from 11 am, with speeches beginning at noon. At least 12,500 people are expected in DC alone, with an estimated 250,000 expected nationwide.
The speaker lineup includes Maryland representative Jamie Raskin, Florida’s Maxwell Frost, Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees and Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
Signs from previous protests are expected to reappear, bearing slogans like “Hands off our democracy,” “Diversity, equity, inclusion makes America strong,” and “Hands off Social Security.”
What happened in Europe?
Ahead of the US events, protests erupted across several European cities. According to Reuters, demonstrations were held in Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London and Lisbon.
In Germany, Democrats Abroad organised rallies in Frankfurt and Berlin, where slogans read, “Shut up Elon, no one voted for you” and “Restore Democracy.”
In Paris, protesters gathered at Place de la République holding signs like “Resist Tyrant” and “Save Democracy.” London demonstrators chanted, “Hands off Canada,” “Hands off Greenland,” and “Hands off Ukraine.”
Why now?
Protest organisers say the time to act is urgent. "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them," reads a statement on the Hands Off! website. "They're taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them."
New York Times reports that organisers believe Trump's economic agenda and rollback of rights are deeply interconnected. Leah Greenberg of Indivisible said, “Let’s talk about Trump’s economic attacks and attacks on our rights. They are not different things.”
Though Trump critics have staged demonstrations before, including on Inauguration Day earlier this year, none have reached the anticipated scale of today’s coordinated protests. The movement is being compared to the 2017 Women’s March and Black Lives Matter protests in terms of scope and significance.
While Trump’s supporters argue that his administration is delivering on promises to cut waste and bureaucracy, critics say the cuts come at the cost of democracy and basic rights. The White House, responding to the protests, stated that “President Trump will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” and accused Democrats of risking those benefits by extending them to undocumented immigrants, a claim widely disputed by advocacy groups, according to AP.
With tensions high and turnout expected to be strong, organisers hope today’s events will mark a turning point in building sustained public pressure. As Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers told the NYT, “Trump promised to help people get ahead—and he’s making life harder and worse.”
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