Thousands of demonstrators rallied across major U.S. cities on Saturday in a wave of “Hands Off” protests targeting the Trump administration’s immigration policies and sweeping government job cuts led by Elon Musk.
Organized by Democratic activists, the protests condemned recent actions by President Donald Trump and Musk, who now heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a pre-rally statement, organizers accused both men of acting as though “the country belongs to them,” warning that their policies threaten public services, jobs, and civil liberties.
“They’re grabbing everything—our healthcare, our jobs, our data—and daring anyone to stop them. This is a crisis,” the statement read.
Demonstrations were held in cities including Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and internationally in Paris, Berlin, and Lisbon. Protesters carried signs reading “Fight Oligarchy,” “Unity over Division,” and “Hands Off Our Jobs.”
In Washington, Democratic lawmakers joined union leaders and activists. Everett B. Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, delivered a passionate speech to the crowd.
“We will not be silenced or pushed aside. Hands off our union, hands off our democracy, and hands off our freedom,” Kelley declared.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston defended the administration’s stance, saying Trump is committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. She accused Democrats of proposing benefits for undocumented immigrants, which she claimed would bankrupt key social programs.
Musk, appointed by Trump in January to head DOGE—formerly the U.S. Digital Service—has overseen mass layoffs and the closure of numerous federal programs. These actions have fueled widespread outrage and triggered waves of protest nationwide.
The demonstrations reflect growing public resistance to what critics describe as aggressive overhauls of government institutions and services under the current administration.
