Across the United States, demonstrators gathered on Saturday to denounce what progressive groups described as Donald Trump’s “authoritarian overreach and billionaire-backed agenda.” The protests, organized by a coalition of left-leaning organizations, were held in various states including Washington DC and Florida, with organizers estimating participation by over half a million people.
In Washington DC, thousands from across the country converged on the National Mall, standing beneath the towering Washington Monument to express their opposition to Trump’s leadership. Protesters, some having traveled from distant states like New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, carried placards voicing discontent with the administration’s policies. Some also carried Ukrainian flags, signaling their objection to the administration’s friendly posture toward Russia, even as the country continues its invasion of Ukraine.
This large gathering marked the first significant protest in the capital since Trump assumed office. Demonstrators hoped it would set a precedent and encourage more Americans to voice their dissent. Diane Kolifrath, a 63-year-old from New Hampshire, attended with around 100 members from New Hampshire Forward, a civic group. “The aim is, get people to rise up,” she said. She added, “Many people are scared to protest against Trump because he has reacted aggressively and violently to those who have stood up. The goal of this protest is to let the rest of Americans who aren’t participating see that we are standing up and hopefully when they see our strength, that will give them the courage to also stand up.”
The coordinated day of demonstrations, called “Hands Off,” was spearheaded by MoveOn and supported by more than a thousand protests held across the country, including many outside state capitols. Numerous progressive groups—ranging from labor unions to environmental and civil rights organizations—joined forces to mobilize support.
Leah Greenberg, executive director of Indivisible, emphasized the protests’ broader message. “We want to send a signal to all people and institutions that have been showing anticipatory obedience to Trump and showing they are willing to bend the knee that there is, in fact, a mass public movement that’s willing to rise up and stop this,” she said. “If our political leaders stand up, we will have their backs. We want them to stand up and protect the norms of democracy and want them to see that there are people out there who are willing to do that. The goal of this is building a message.”
The largest of the day’s protests took place in Washington, DC, where tens of thousands assembled. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Jamie Raskin from Maryland, Maxwell Frost from Florida, and Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, addressed the crowd. Raskin, a senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, warned against threats to the democratic process. “They believe democracy is doomed and they believe regime change is upon us if only they can seize our payments system,” he said. He added, “If they think they are going to overthrow the foundations of democracy, they don’t know who they are dealing with.”
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, spoke about the administration’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. At the National Mall rally, she told the crowd, “The attacks that we’re seeing, they’re not just political. They are personal, y’all. They’re trying to ban our books, they’re slashing HIV-prevention funding, they’re criminalizing our doctors, our teachers, our families and our lives.” She concluded with a call for a more inclusive future: “We don’t want this America, y’all. We want the America we deserve, where dignity, safety and freedom belong not to some of us, but to all of us.”
In Hollywood, Florida, about an hour from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, protesters made their views known through chants and creative signs. Many criticized billionaire advisor Elon Musk and his influence on government decisions. A crowd of mostly white demonstrators chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Trump and Musk have got to go.” They voiced their disapproval to passing drivers in Tesla Cybertrucks, products of Musk’s electric vehicle company.
Protest signs in Florida reflected widespread anger. One read, “Prosecute and jail the Turd Reich.” Another sign targeted Musk directly, stating, “I did not elect Elon Musk.” Others focused on defending democratic norms, such as “Hands off democracy” and “Stop being Putin’s puppet,” the latter referencing the Russian leader.
Many passing motorists expressed support, honking and giving thumbs-up gestures. The demonstration occurred in Broward County, one of just six counties in Florida that supported Kamala Harris during the November election, where she beat Trump by a 16-point margin. Broward also hosts one of the nation’s most active LGBTQ+ communities.
Jennifer Heit, a 64-year-old editor from Plantation, was among the protesters. Holding a sign that read “USA: No to King or Oligarchy,” she voiced her concern over the current political climate. “This is an assault on our democracy, on our economy, on our civil rights,” she said. “Everything is looking so bad that I feel we have to do all we can while we can, and just having all this noise is unsettling to everyone.”
Heit, who had previously protested outside a Tesla dealership in Fort Lauderdale, said she was alarmed by Trump’s disregard for the legal system and due process, particularly concerning immigrants. “We’re supposed to be a nation of laws and due process,” she said.
Another protester, Donna Greene, a 62-year-old public health researcher, came dressed as Marie Antoinette, the beheaded French queen. She carried a sign that read: “Musk and Trump Say Let Them Eat Cake.” Greene, whose father Sam Ragland flew 65 missions during World War II, reflected on the nation’s transformation. “Everything my father fought for and everything we hold dear as a country is being dismantled,” she said. “I am beyond incredulous at how quickly our country’s institutions have been dismantled with no pushback from the Republicans who are currently in charge.”
In Ventura, California, Sandy Friedman joined the protest with her eight-year-old granddaughter, Harlow Rose Rega. Concerned about her financial future, Friedman said, “I worked my whole life and so did my husband. Now I’m afraid Trump will take it away.” Harlow held up a handmade sign that read: “Save my future.”
These demonstrations followed a week of economic turmoil, with the stock market plunging after Trump’s announcement on April 1 of new tariffs. Despite the economic shockwaves, Trump remained firm, saying on Friday, “My policies will never change.”
Public dissatisfaction with his leadership appeared to be growing. According to a Reuters poll released this week, Trump’s approval rating dropped to 43 percent—its lowest point since he took office.
As the crowds dispersed after a day of protest, organizers and participants alike emphasized the same goal: to stand up against what they view as a dangerous shift in American governance and to inspire others to act before it’s too late.