Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the United States on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s recent policies, particularly sweeping trade tariffs and proposed government downsizing. The protests, held under the banner of the “Hands Off!” movement, spanned all 50 states and even reached into neighbouring Canada and Mexico.
The coordinated demonstrations were organised by over 150 activist groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans’ associations, and election reform coalitions. More than 1,200 protests were reported nationwide, with major turnouts in Washington D.C. and near Trump’s residence in Florida.
The protests also targeted Elon Musk, director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), criticizing efforts to drastically reduce the size of the federal government through budget cuts and mass layoffs. Protesters accused the Trump administration and DOGE of orchestrating what they described as “the most brazen power grab in modern history.”
Participants rallied around the slogan “Hands Off!”—a call to defend public services, jobs, and democratic institutions. Demonstrators expressed outrage over policies they say threaten healthcare, social security, food security, housing, and employment.
“I’m here for everyone fighting to keep their jobs and access to basic needs,” said one protester. “People are suffering because there’s no money, and many have already lost their livelihoods.”
Another protester, referencing Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March, said, “This ‘me first’ approach—my country, my products, my profits—is unsustainable. We must remember that we all have something to give to the world.”
Others condemned Trump’s tariff policy as a danger to global cooperation and economic stability. “Trump’s extreme tariffs are not just bad for Americans, but also hurt our allies, trading partners, and democracies like India,” said one participant. “We should be building partnerships, not walls around trade.”
A protester at the Washington Monument voiced deeper concerns: “President Trump and Elon Musk will go down in history as criminals. We won’t stand by while they dismantle our government and democracy.”
The protests came in response to President Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping new tariffs on imports from countries around the world. Just two months into his second term, Trump outlined a trade policy based on “fairness and reciprocity,” pledging to impose reciprocal tariffs matching those levied by other nations on U.S. goods.
The announcement sent shockwaves through global financial markets and drew concern from several international partners. Critics argue that the tariffs risk sparking trade wars, damaging both the U.S. economy and its global relationships.
While demonstrators gathered in large numbers nationwide, President Trump spent Saturday at his golf club in Jupiter, Florida, before returning to his Mar-a-Lago estate.
The growing unrest signals deepening public resistance to the Trump administration’s economic and governance policies, with many vowing to sustain the movement until significant policy changes—or leadership changes—are achieved.
