On Saturday, April 5th, demonstrations took place across the United States as protesters united against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Trump Administration and Musk have been working to “reduce waste” through widespread government layoffs and contract terminations throughout Trump’s presidency. There has even been an attempt to .
Various grassroots advocacy groups mobilized for Hands Off! protests, highlighting issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, and climate action.
A demonstrator at the Washington D.C. rally on the National Mall was photographed holding a sign that stated, “Stop Destroying America.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated regarding the April 5th protests: “Anyone who believes that protests, lawsuits, and legal challenges will deter President Trump has clearly not been paying attention. President Trump remains committed to making our federal government more efficient and accountable to the American taxpayers who overwhelmingly re-elected him.”
TIME has contacted the White House for their comments.
According to a toolkit created for those wishing to organize their own marches, the protest aimed to present a “massive, visible, national rejection of this crisis.” These demonstrations occurred at a critical time, following President Trump’s declaration of “Liberation Day” on April 2nd.
“Whether you are concerned about attacks on our democracy, job cuts, privacy violations, or assaults on our services, this moment is for you,” the toolkit stated. “Our goal is to demonstrate that the majority of people are taking action to stop the corruption and power grab.”
Protest demands included ending the “billionaire takeover” of the Trump Administration, halting funding cuts to Medicaid, , and other programs, and ending attacks on immigrants, transgender individuals, and other communities.
Additionally, protesters highlighted Trump’s efforts to dismantle and the for select health initiatives.
International demonstrations took place in cities such as London, Paris, and Stockholm. In Berlin, protesters gathered outside the U.S. embassy. One demonstrator held a sign reading: “Hands off our Social Security,” reflecting concerns about the future of .
In London, one sign read “Hands off Europe,” while another stated “Greenland is not for sale,” referencing Trump’s previous interest in .
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