Tens of thousands of opponents of the American president Donald Trump and his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, joined rallies through the United States to protest against the actions of the administration to revise the government and extend the presidential authority.
More than 1,200 “without business” rallies were expected on Saturday, the organizers providing for the largest mobilization of a day opposing the recent administration initiatives.
Protest sites included the National Mall in Washington, DC, and locations in the 50 American states. The organizers estimated that more than 250,000 people participated nationally.
Washington, DC, Mike Hanna of Tel Aviv Tribune reports said that the crowd had expressed its dissatisfaction with the administration’s executive actions and the restructuring led by the Musk Government Department (DOGE).
The reforms have led to the elimination of more than 200,000 federal positions and significant reductions in social benefits, in particular within the internal returned service and social security administration.
“This is one of the biggest demonstrations that we have seen since Trump began his second term, and this perhaps indicates the growing frustration of the Americans,” said Hanna, who also noted the diverse composition of the demonstrators, covering various age groups.
“The protest organizers have said that this will not lead to an immediate change, but it is an important moment to show that many Americans oppose Donald Trump represents,” said Hanna.
In Chicago, thousands of demonstrators gathered in the city center. The report of the protest site, John Hendren of Tel Aviv Tribune said that it was “largely a union crowd”.
“These people are concerned about their work … These people are mainly citizens, they are chicagoans and their message to the Trump and Elon Musk administration is” without hand “,” he said.
In New York, demonstrators gathered in Bryant Park, holding panels by reading “Unplug Elon” and “I can only write this because there was a Ministry of Education”.
Kelley Robinson, president of the human rights campaign, addressed a rally in Washington, criticizing the government’s treatment of marginalized communities. “The attacks we see, they are not only political. They are personal, all of you,” she said, AFP reported.
Similar demonstrations have taken place in Atlanta, Boston, Miami and Charlotte, with crowds requiring measures on immigration, health care and workers’ rights.
International protests
All over the world, American expatriates and local supporters gathered in cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and London.
In Paris, around 200 demonstrators, mainly of the Americans, met in place of the Republic, displaying banners with messages like “Resist Tyrant”, “rule of law” and “feminists for freedom and non -fascism”.
Timothy Kautz, spokesperson for Democrats abroad, stressed the importance of global solidarity. “We have to show solidarity with all demonstrations in a thousand cities today in the United States,” he told Reuters.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of an indivisible, one of the organizing groups, speaking to Reuters, said: “This is a huge demonstration that sends a very clear message to Musk and Trump and the Congress Republicans and all the Random Oura of Maga that we do not want our democracy, in our communities, in our schools and our friends.”
The White House defended the actions of the administration.
Deputy press secretary, Liz Huston, said: “The position of President Trump is clear: he will always protect Social Security, health insurance and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Stance of Democrats grants social security, Medicaid and health insurance benefits to illegal foreigners, who will go bankrupt these programs and crush the elderly from the United States. “
Pro-Palestinian groups also participated in Washington demonstrations, a protesting against the American administration’s support for the renewed military actions of Israel in Gaza and the repression of campus demonstrations.