Thousands of demonstrators marched across major U.S. cities on Saturday to voice outrage over the Trump administration’s immigration policies and sweeping federal job cuts led by Elon Musk, head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The protests, driven by Democratic activists, accused both President Donald Trump and Musk of systematically dismantling public services and civil liberties.
“They’re taking everything—our healthcare, our jobs, and our data—and daring anyone to stop them,” read a statement from the protest organizers. “This is a crisis, and we won’t stand by while they continue dismantling our country.”
From Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, and internationally in cities like Paris and Berlin, demonstrators waved signs reading “Fight Oligarchy,” “Unity Over Division,” and “Hands Off Our Jobs.” Protesters rallied against what they see as an attack on worker protections and public welfare systems under the guise of government reform.
In Washington, union leaders and Democratic lawmakers joined the movement. Everett B. Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, fired up the crowd with a passionate speech: “We will not be silenced or pushed aside. Hands off our union, hands off our democracy, and hands off our freedom.”
Elon Musk, appointed in January to lead DOGE, has come under scrutiny for orchestrating widespread federal layoffs and shuttering government programs. While Musk says the goal is efficiency, critics argue it’s a thinly veiled attempt to weaken democratic institutions and slash vital services.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston responded to the growing backlash by defending the administration’s stance. “President Trump remains committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” she said, adding that Democrats’ proposals for undocumented immigrant benefits “would bankrupt the very systems Americans rely on.”
