On Saturday, April 5, 2025, hundreds of thousands of people across the United States and other countries joined together for the “Hands Off!” protests. These protests were organized to oppose recent decisions made by President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Trump’s administration. Demonstrations were held in all 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as in cities like London, Paris, Stockholm, and Berlin.
The movement was sparked by fears about job losses, threats to democracy, cuts to public services, and actions that critics say are harming vulnerable communities. Protesters held signs with messages like “Hands off my education,” “Stop Destroying America,” and “Hands off our Social Security.” One flyer for the protest said, “Whether you are mobilized by the attacks on our democracy, the slashing of jobs, the invasion of privacy, or the assault on our services – this moment is for you.”
Many people voiced concern about Elon Musk’s role in the administration. As head of DOGE, Musk has supported mass layoffs of federal workers and the reduction of programs like foreign aid, public education, and climate protections. He once bragged that he put the U.S. Agency for International Development “in the wood chipper.”
In Washington, D.C., large crowds gathered at the National Mall, where lawmakers and labor leaders gave speeches. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said, “Our founders wrote a Constitution that does not begin with ‘We the dictators,’ the preamble says ‘We the people.’ No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota told the crowd, “If you believe in a country where we take care of our neighbors, look after the poor and make sure our children have a future they can believe in, we have to fight for it.”
Protesters also spoke out against plans to deport immigrants, eliminate public school programs, and remove environmental protections. Some were worried about changes to Social Security and Medicaid. One woman in Chicago said, “Eventually I want to receive my Social Security that I paid for. I’ve been working since I was 13 years old. I’m fighting for my Social Security and everybody else’s.”
Unions representing federal workers also joined the protest. Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said, “(The) Trump administration is absolutely destroying public services in this country. That’s right. They claim to be making government more efficient. That is a joke, people. That is a cruel joke. They’re doing the exact opposite.” Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, declared, “We will not be silenced. We will not bow down. We’ll stand up and say hands off our union. We’ll stand up and say hands off our contract.”
The White House responded by saying, “Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years. President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers across the country who overwhelmingly re-elected him.” It also said, “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump in the 2024 election, also made a statement in support of the protesters. “Today in every state across our nation, Americans are standing up to the administration as they implement Project 2025 at full speed,” she wrote. “Thank you for using your voices and the power of protest to stand for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; for the Department of Education and programs like Head Start; for clean air and water; for the right to make decisions about your own body without government interference.”
While most protests were peaceful, there was a tense moment in Lafayette, Indiana. Police said a man took a gun out of his truck during a disagreement with protesters but did not point it at anyone. He was later released.
The “Hands Off!” protests were organized by groups such as Indivisible and MoveOn. Many people who had never protested before said they joined because they felt their rights and future were in danger. One man in New York said, “The soldiers, they go to war to defend democracy. At my age, this is how I go to war to defend democracy.”
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/05/us/hands-off-protests-trump-musk/index.html
https://time.com/7275249/protesters-across-us-global-rally-against-trump-musk
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/us/politics/anti-trump-protests-hands-off.html
Background Information
Who Is Donald Trump?
Donald Trump is a businessman and former television personality who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. In 2024, he ran for president again and was re-elected. He is a member of the Republican Party and is known for his strong opinions, controversial policies, and unusual approach to leadership. Many people support him because they believe he speaks his mind and challenges the traditional political system. Others criticize him for what they see as harmful decisions and divisive language.
What Is the Trump Administration?
When someone is elected President of the United States, they lead a group of officials and advisors who help them run the country. This is called an “administration.” The Trump administration refers to Donald Trump and the people he has appointed to different positions in the federal government. These include secretaries, advisors, and department heads who help shape national policies on issues like healthcare, education, immigration, and the environment.
Who Is Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is a well-known billionaire who leads major companies like Tesla (which makes electric cars) and SpaceX (which builds rockets and spacecraft). In the current Trump administration, he has been put in charge of a special government department called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. His job is to reduce government spending and make federal operations more “efficient.” However, many people believe his approach has caused harm, including massive job cuts and weakening of important public services.
What Is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
The Department of Government Efficiency is a new department created by President Trump during his second term. Its goal is to cut government waste and save money. Elon Musk, who now leads this department, has pushed for many changes that reduce the size of the government. These include firing federal workers, canceling programs, and cutting back on foreign aid and environmental protections. Critics say this department is being used to get rid of important public services.
What Is Project 2025?
Project 2025 is a term used to describe a plan that some people say outlines the Trump administration’s goals for completely reshaping how the U.S. government works. While President Trump has denied being officially connected to it, the project has been linked to efforts to give more power to the president, remove certain federal protections, and fire government employees who do not support the administration’s political beliefs. People protesting Project 2025 fear it will harm democracy and individual freedoms.
What Is a Protest and Why Do People Protest?
A protest is when people gather together to show that they are unhappy with something, usually related to politics or society. Protests are a way for citizens to express their opinions and demand change. In the United States, peaceful protests are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech and peaceful assembly. People often protest by marching, holding signs, giving speeches, or chanting slogans.
Why Are Protests Important in a Democracy?
In a democracy like the United States, the government is supposed to listen to the people. Protests are one way people can make their voices heard, especially when they feel their rights are being threatened or their needs are being ignored. While elections happen every few years, protests allow people to speak out between elections. Protesting helps raise awareness, influence public opinion, and sometimes even change laws or policies.
What Are Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?
These are government programs that provide help to people in need:
- Social Security gives money each month to people who are retired or cannot work due to a disability.
- Medicare helps older people pay for health care.
- Medicaid helps low-income individuals and families pay for medical costs.
These programs are paid for through taxes and are considered essential by many Americans, especially older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families.
Why Are People Worried About Public Education and the Environment?
Public education in the U.S. is mostly funded by the government. If funding is cut or if the Department of Education is eliminated, many schools might lose money for teachers, supplies, and programs like special education or free lunch.
The environment is protected by laws that limit pollution and support clean air and water. If these protections are removed or weakened, it could lead to more pollution and harm to people’s health and natural areas like parks and forests.
What Does “Authoritarianism” Mean?
Authoritarianism is a system of government where one leader or a small group has a lot of power and controls many parts of people’s lives. In an authoritarian government, people often lose their rights, and the government can silence anyone who disagrees. Protesters say they fear the Trump administration is becoming more authoritarian by punishing critics, firing government workers, and removing checks and balances that are meant to protect democracy.
What Are Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining?
A labor union is a group of workers who join together to protect their rights at work. Collective bargaining is when union leaders and employers negotiate things like pay, working conditions, and benefits. Unions help make sure workers are treated fairly. Many government employees belong to unions, and they are upset because they believe the Trump administration is trying to take away their right to negotiate.
Why Were There Protests in Other Countries?
Even though these protests were mainly about the U.S. government, people in other countries also joined in. Many of them were worried about how U.S. decisions could affect the rest of the world, especially when it comes to things like climate change, immigration, and global democracy. People in Berlin, London, Paris, and Stockholm held protests to show their support for American protesters and to raise their own concerns.
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