By Jonathan Landay and Tim Reid
()- Approximately 1,200 protests are scheduled throughout the U.S. this Saturday, expected to mark the biggest one-day demonstration yet against President Donald Trump and his wealthy supporter Elon Musk. This comes as they have been aggressively pushing for significant changes in governance and an increase in presidential power.
As thousands made their way into central Washington, the demonstrations began under overcast skies with a gentle rainfall. According to organizers, upwards of 20,000 individuals were anticipated for the gathering at the National Mall.
The demonstrations in the United States will provide Trump's adversaries with a chance to collectively express their discontent in reaction to his series of executive actions.
Approximately 150 activist organizations have registered to take part, as stated on the event’s webpage. Demonstrations are scheduled to occur across all 50 U.S. states along with Canada and Mexico.
Activists filled the bustling stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C., waiting for buses to transport them into the city center. They held placards emblazoned with messages like "No Monarchs in America" and "Ship Back Musk."
Terry Klein, a former biomedical researcher from Princeton, New Jersey, was part of the crowd of several hundred people who arrived early at the area near the stage beneath the Washington Monument.
She mentioned that she traveled down to participate in the demonstration against Trump’s policies encompassing "immigration issues, Dogecoin matters, as well as the tariffs announced this week, not to mention education." She added, "Our entire nation is facing threats, every one of our institutions, everything that defines America is at risk."
David Madden, a 75-year-old army veteran and former trial attorney, traveled from Dayton, Ohio, to protest what he sees as "the unfairness plaguing our nation, the theft of institutions from the American populace, the chaos within court systems, and the belief that our population is fundamentally racist."
With Trump’s approval, Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has swept across the U.S. government, cutting down over 200,000 positions from the total of 2.3 million federal employees. This process has occasionally been disorganized and led to the reinstatement of essential experts when they were recalled.
On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service started dismissing over 20,000 employees, which amounts to up to 25% of its workforce.
A few hundred individuals convened at the Social Security Administration building, considered one of the key targets for DOGE, close to Baltimore on Saturday. They assembled to demonstrate their opposition to potential reductions in funding for an organization responsible for providing support to senior citizens and those with disabilities.
The atmosphere was filled with anger and defiance following the agency's recent announcement of cutting down 7,000 employees and discontinuing telephone services for millions of claimants.
DOGE members have been within the facility for several weeks now. The majority of the gathering consisted of retirees who brandished homemade placards with messages such as "Where Is My Nation Heading?", "REMOVE DOGE!", "Dispatch Musk to Mars," and "Keep Your Hands Off Social Security!".
Linda Falcao, who will turn 65 in two months, informed the audience that she has been contributing to the Social Security fund since she was 16 years old.
I am scared, furious, enraged, and amazed this could occur in the United States," she stated. "Despite my love for America, I feel shattered. I urgently need my funds. I insist on receiving my benefits!
In reply, the audience shouted, "The money belongs to us!"
The White House assistant press secretary, Liz Huston, refuted the claim made by the demonstrators that Trump planned to reduce funding for Social Security and Medicaid.
"President Trump’s stance remains firm: he will consistently safeguard Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for those who qualify as beneficiaries. Conversely, according to the Democrats’ viewpoint, providing Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to individuals without proper documentation would lead these programs into financial ruin and adversely affect senior citizens in America,” stated Huston via email.
Many aspects of Trump's plans have been hindered by legal actions arguing that he exceeded his power by trying to dismiss government employees, expel immigrants, and overturn transgender rights.
On January 20th, Trump resumed his role at the helm, accompanied by numerous executive actions criticized for aligning closely with Project 2025—a highly conservative plan aimed at overhauling governmental structures and bolstering presidential power. Supporters laud these moves as bold steps needed to challenge long-standing liberal influences.
A few hours prior to the scheduled start of protests in the United States, numerous Americans residing in Europe who oppose Trump assembled in cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London. They came together to express their disapproval of Trump’s extensive overhaul of both American domestic and international policies.
Approximately 200 individuals, largely Americans, convened at Paris' Place de la Republique where they listened to various speakers and held up signs with messages such as "Stand Against Despotism," " Uphold Justice," "Feminists Advocating Liberty Not Fascism," and "Defend Democracy."
"We must demonstrate our support for all the protests happening across a thousand cities in the USA today," stated Timothy Kautz, a spokesperson for Democrats Abroad, from his location in Frankfurt. protester Jose Sanchez commented that Trump was a fraud undermining American democracy.
(Reported by Jonathan Landay and Tim Reid from Washington. Further reports provided by Daniel Trotta based in Carlsbad, California, John Irish from Paris, with additional contributions from Emma-Victoria Farr, Christian Mang, and Frank Simon in Berlin and Frankfurt respectively;Sarah Young reported from London. The article was written by James Oliphant; Edited by Frank McGurty, Toby Chopra, and Alistair Bell.)