18 hours ago
Last Updated:April 05, 2025, 20:56 IST
The 'Hands Off!' campaign was launched in response to what activists call a “hostile takeover” of American governance by a coalition of wealthy elites, led by Trump and Musk.
The 'Hands Off!' protests are aimed at the "brazen power grab" by wealthy elites like Trump and Musk. (AP File Image)
The United States is expected to witness nationwide protests against President Donald Trump and his close ally Elon Musk for a “brazen power grab", and condemning the administration’s actions on government downsizing, economic restructuring, human rights and other issues.
Over 1,200 protests have been planned under the banner “Hands Off!" by over 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and election activists. These protests will take place at the Mall in Washington DC, state capitols and other locations in all states.
According to organisers, this movement represents one of the most significant public demonstrations since Trump took office in January and may even be the largest single-day protest of his second term.
What Is The ‘Hands Off’ Protest?
The ‘Hands Off!’ campaign was launched in response to what activists call a “hostile takeover" of American governance by a coalition of wealthy elites, led by Trump and Musk. These protests seek to hold the President accountable for his controversial actions, such as ending diversity programmes and firing thousands of government workers.
The organisers also believe that Trump should be held accountable for the various criminal cases registered against him, including his attempts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential elections, which his predecessor Joe Biden won.
These organisers include nationally recognised groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Indivisible, MoveOn, the Human Rights Campaign, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research, the League of Women Voters, Third Act, and Reproductive Freedom for All.
The protest has inspired several innovative poster ideas that are being shared across social media platforms. These posters slam Trump’s policy towards women’s rights, climate change, and his repeated pledges to take Canada and Greenland among other issues.
Why Are People Protesting Against Trump, Musk?
Musk, the world’s richest man and Trump’s close adviser who also owns Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter), has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he justified by saying it would save billions of dollars in taxpayers’ money.
“This is not just corruption. This is not just mismanagement. This is a hostile takeover," reads the official website of the protest. The campaign has called for halting the “billionaire takeover" of government institutions along with restructuring programmes like Social Security and Medicare. It also called for a stop to discriminatory policies against immigrants.
“They want to strip America for parts — shuttering Social Security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections, and gutting Medicaid — all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam," reads the website, accusing the administration of handing over tax dollars to the ultra-rich.
Organisers reported over 250,000 RSVPs as of March 29 for events scheduled on Saturday (April 5). By the day before the protests, that number had grown to nearly 400,000, according to Indivisible, one of the primary organising partners.
White House’s Response To Protests
Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries."
“Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors," it added.
While activists staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump or Musk multiple times since the new administration took power, this movement is yet to produce a mass mobilisation like the Women’s March in 2017 or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations after George Floyd’s killing.
(with inputs from agencies)
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:April 05, 2025, 20:54 IST
News world 'Hands Off' Protests Against Donald Trump, Elon Musk To Take Place Across US Today: What Are They?
