In a show of public dissent, thousands of protesters flooded the streets of major US cities on Saturday, voicing discontent with President Donald Trump’s policies and leadership style.
The coordinated demonstrations, dubbed the “Hands Off” protests, mark the largest nationwide opposition since Trump began his second term in January.
Organised to take place in over 1,200 locations across all 50 states, the rallies drew massive crowds in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Demonstrators cited a wide range of grievances—from controversial immigration raids to economic decisions like sweeping import tariffs.
The wave of protests also rippled beyond US borders, with sympathetic rallies held in cities including London, Paris, and Berlin. In the British capital, protesters wielded signs that read “WTAF America?”, “Stop hurting people,” and “He’s an idiot,” while chanting slogans like “hands off Canada,” “hands off Greenland,” and “hands off Ukraine” in response to Trump’s contentious foreign policy maneuvers.
In Boston, outrage was sparked by recent immigration raids targeting foreign students, including the arrest of Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk near Tufts University—a moment caught on camera and widely circulated. “You can stand up today or you can be taken later,” said law student Katie Smith. “I’m not usually a protest girlie,” she added, emphasising the urgency of resistance.
In Washington D.C., the atmosphere was electric as thousands gathered to hear Democratic lawmakers speak out against the administration. Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost condemned what he called a “billionaire takeover of our government,” singling out Elon Musk—an advisor to the president—as a central figure in the administration’s push for deep federal cuts.
“When you steal from the people, expect the people to rise up. At the ballot box and in the streets,” Frost told the crowd.
The demonstrations followed a difficult week for President Trump and his allies. While Republicans narrowly won a special congressional election in Florida, they fell short of expectations. In Wisconsin, a Democrat defeated a Musk-backed Republican in a state supreme court race by nearly 10 points—a sign of waning enthusiasm for the Trump coalition.
New polling appears to confirm this trend. A Reuters/Ipsos survey released earlier in the week showed Trump’s approval rating dipping to 43%, the lowest since his second inauguration. Another poll by Harvard Caps/Harris showed a slight drop in overall approval to 49%, though 54% of respondents still said he was doing a better job than former President Joe Biden.
Among the protesters in D.C. was a woman named Theresa, who said she feared the erosion of democratic institutions and essential programs. “I’m very concerned about the cuts they’re making to the federal government,” she said, adding that retirement and education benefits were also at risk. “We’re losing our democratic rights.”
Trump, however, appeared unfazed. He held no public events on Saturday, instead spending the day golfing at one of his Florida resorts—a decision that didn’t go unnoticed by protesters. “Let’s see,” Theresa said. “He’s been golfing just about every day.”
The White House later released a statement defending the president’s actions and blasting Democrats for what it described as a plan to bankrupt critical programs like Medicare and Social Security. “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries,” the statement read. “Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens.”
Trump’s immigration advisor Tom Homan also weighed in on the protests, revealing that demonstrators had gathered outside his New York residence.
“They can protest a vacant house all they want,” he told Fox News. “Protests and rallies, they don’t mean anything. It’s not going to change the facts of the case.”
