On April 5, 2025, protests against Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and his administration were held across the nation. Major cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC were amongst the protesting locations.
These protests were united under one main cause: ‘Hands off.’ The ‘Hands Off’ movements featured mass-action protests in front of federal buildings, state capitals, parks, city halls, etc., in all 50 states. It’s estimated that around 1400 protests occurred, with protesters aging from one to one hundred years old. The movement on April 5 called for the removal of the richest man in the world and close cabinet advisor, Elon Musk, from power over the rights and freedoms of the American people. It also was protesting against Trump, with protestors advocating for pro-democracy, an end to a money-fueled takeover (the cabinet using Trump’s presidency for personal profit), a call to action to protect the lives of immigrants and minority communities, and to protect federal funds for important, government-issued help to the people. The movement united hundreds of thousands of Americans to stand against the impending danger to their lives, their neighbors’ lives, and to the United States’ political welfare.
From the slashing of funds, mass deportation of immigrants, and mass firing of federal workers, to the involvement and role Elon Musk has played in the 84-day long presidency, causes for outrage are running rampant. ‘Hands off’ refers to a long list of recently instituted government policies that endanger political stability, calling for ‘Hands off’ of including, but not limited to, the following: the United States Constitution, female autonomy, due process, education, federal spending, the military, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants, fair elections, healthcare, the press, jobs, cancer research, and many more.
The phrase, “We must stop Trump and Musk’s Illegal, billionaire power grab” was shared on social media, along with the time and date of the organized, peaceful protests.
Protesters’ signs featured anything from quotes from the Constitution, “Liberty and justice for ALL,” to phrases like “Malignant stupidity” written across images of the 47th president and his close political advisor, Musk. Other signs referenced protection of the constitution, social security, free speech and democracy.
“I felt so frustrated and paralyzed by the bunch of things that are going on that undermine human rights and humanity in this country that I love, that I had to do something.” Patty Kim, a retired federal worker, said to a NPR reporter at a D.C protest.
Trump has additionally openly discussed changing the Constitution in such a way that will allow him to run for a third term. He told NBC he is, “not joking,” about this claim, but, “it is far too early to think about it.” More ignorance of the Constitution was seen when Trump prevented certain news organizations like the Associated Press into the Oval Office, and claimed what others write about him should be illegal. In early March, at a speech at the Department of Justice, Trump said, “I believe that CNN and MS-NBC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party and in my opinion, they’re really corrupt and they’re illegal, what they do is illegal.” Trump has also spoken about Greenland and Canada as new additions to the United States, which has quickly faced opposition by all three parties involved.
Outrage has been seen against Musk, who holds as much power as senior advisor to the President, and he is head of Department of Government Efficiency. Many Americans feel Musk is not qualified to hold such a high position in office, and that he contributes to the slow, public corruption of democracy by Trump. Since inauguration, Musk has been responsible for more than 275,000 job cuts, coming out to a 205% increase in layoffs, with further impending layoffs.
Musk has also spearheaded increasing antisemitism around the nation. His fascist salute at President Trump’s inauguration faced no consequences, and neither has his endorsement for antisemetic peoples’ comments on X.
Protests are not limited to America. Cities around the world like Lisbon, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Paris have also held protests against Trump and Musk. The messages are similar to those in the United States; the goal is to protect democracy, the Constitution, and prevent tyranny from Trump.
While the protests raged on, Trump was in Florida on a golfing retreat. No comment from the White House was made in response or acknowledgement to the worldwide protests.
As the country enters new and uncertain times, protests have increased and will not be limited to the one on April 5. Another nationwide anti-Trump, anti-Musk, ‘Hands Off’ protest is planned to occur across all 50 sates again on April 19, continuing the fight for democracy. This protest will be called the ‘50501.’ ‘50501’ stands for “50 protests in 50 states, 1 movement.” Protests are not the only event occurring in the streets on April 19, according to fliers posted about the protest; food drives, shelters and other creative ways to get involved in providing help to communities will occur alongside the protests.
