‘Democracy not dictatorship’: US protesters against Donald Trump

Organisers say events are focused on safeguarding Social Security, Medicaid and other essential programs.

Protesters carry signs and chant slogans against the policies of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk in Miami. Picture: AP

Dozens of protests kicked off around the US on Saturday to oppose Trump administration policies that organisers say favour billionaires over everyday people.

Tens of thousands turned out in Washington DC for a “Hands Off” event around the National Mall.

In the biggest day of demonstrations yet by an opposition movement trying to regain its ­momentum after the shock of the Republican’s first weeks in office, marchers carried signs that said “Democracy Not Dictatorship”, and “I Heart Federal Workers”.

The so-called Hands Off! demonstrations were organised for more than 1200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, ­including civil rights organisations, labour unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. The rallies appeared peaceful, with no immediate reports of arrests.

Thousands of protesters in cities dotting the nation from midtown Manhattan to Anchorage, Alaska, including at multiple state capitols, assailed Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s actions on government downsizing, the economy, immigration and human rights. On the west coast, protesters held signs with slogans like “Fight the oligarchy”.

Protesters chanted as they took to the streets in Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, where they marched from Pershing Square to City Hall.

Demonstrators voiced anger over the administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who runs Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

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.”

Roger Broom, 66, a retiree from Delaware County, Ohio, said he used to be a Reagan Republican but has been turned off by Mr Trump. “He’s tearing this country apart,” Mr Broom said. “It’s just an administration of grievances.”

With Agencies