Photo Credit: Getty Images
Thousands of demonstrators gathered across the United States on Saturday in what organizers described as the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump since his January inauguration. Despite rainy conditions in many locations, protesters assembled at over 1,200 rallies nationwide, united under the "Hands Off" slogan to express opposition to the administration's policies on government restructuring, immigration, and international trade.
In Washington, D.C., demonstrators converged on the National Mall, where organizers reported a turnout exceeding 100,000 people. "Our founders wrote a Constitution that did not begin with 'We the dictators,'" declared Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) to the assembled crowd. He specifically condemned the administration's tariff policies as "not only imbecilic—they're illegal, they're unconstitutional, and we're going to turn this around."
Terry Klein, a retired biomedical scientist who traveled from Princeton, New Jersey, explained her motivation: "Our whole country is under attack, all of our institutions, all the things that make America what it is." This sentiment was echoed by fellow protesters carrying signs addressing issues from government cuts to international relations.
Economic concerns featured prominently among demonstrators' grievances. Wayne Hoffman, a 73-year-old retired money manager from West Cape May, New Jersey, expressed worry about the impact of widespread tariffs. "It's going to cost the farmers in the red states. It's going to cost people their jobs—certainly their 401Ks. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars," he told Reuters.
Federal workers also joined the protests, including Paul Osadebe, a lawyer for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Speaking to the Washington crowd, Osadebe revealed he had been pressured to accept a buyout offer from the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. He accused the leadership of not valuing "you or your life or your community."
Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) offered a stark assessment of the current political climate. "They would have us believe if we gave them all of control, everything would be OK," he stated. "But breaking news, they have the control, and look at where we are now: massive inequality across the country."
The demonstrations extended beyond Washington to all fifty states, with additional rallies held in Canada and Mexico. In Boston, event organizers framed their opposition in stark terms: "The federal administration thinks this country belongs to them—and that they're above the law. They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our rights, our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them."
Stan and Cindy Prusik, who participated in the D.C. protest, shared personal concerns about economic stability and international relations. "I don't sleep well. I'm scared," Cindy admitted. "We've got money we've saved all of our lives, our retirement—it's not going to be there."
Despite the nationwide scale and emotional intensity of the demonstrations, authorities reported no major disturbances or arrests at any of the rallies. The White House did not provide immediate comment on the events, which constituted the first major coordinated opposition since Trump returned to office in January.
