Americans held rallies across the country against Trump and Musk.
On April 5, 2025, millions of people in the United States and around the world participated in "Hands Off!" protests against President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. These protests, organized by the pro-democracy movement, targeted policies that protesters believe benefit the elite at the expense of average Americans.
The protests took place in over 1,200 locations, including all 50 state capitals, federal buildings, and city halls.
Protesters gathered in major cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, and Boston, as well as in smaller towns and rural areas.
In Washington, D.C., over 20,000 people gathered on the National Mall, holding placards protesting massive cuts to federal agencies, defending constitutional rights, and supporting the human rights of immigrants, women, and trans people.
Protesters expressed concern over the Trump administration's actions, including laying off thousands of federal workers, closing regional offices of the Social Security Administration, shutting down entire agencies, deporting immigrants, reducing protections for transgender people, and cutting federal funding for health programs.
The protests also highlighted the administration's recent tariffs, which have disappointed financial markets.
In addition to the U.S., protests took place in cities around the world, including London, Paris, Berlin, and Stockholm. In Berlin, protesters gathered outside the U.S. Embassy, with one woman holding a sign that read, "Hands off our Social Security," in reference to concerns about Social Security under the Trump administration.
In London, protesters chanted "Hands off" and "Donald Trump must go" in Trafalgar Square.
The White House responded to the protests, saying President Trump's position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. The statement also criticized Democrats for allegedly extending benefits to illegal aliens, which the administration claims will bankrupt these programs and ruin American seniors.
Protesters included groups as diverse as civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans, and election workers.
Many protesters were motivated by personal experiences, such as veterans who felt betrayed by the administration's treatment of military service members.
The protests were seen as the largest single day of protests since Trump took office, with over half a million people RSVPing to attend marches and protests.
Despite the scale of the protests, organizers acknowledged that the movement has not yet created a mass movement like the Women's March in 2017 or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in 2020.
In short, "Hands off!" The protests represent a nationwide and global rejection of the Trump administration's policies and actions, with millions of people participating in demonstrations across the United States and in various international cities.