By Jonathan Landay and Tim Reid
()- Approximately 1,200 protests are scheduled nationwide for Saturday, expected to mark the biggest collective demonstration yet against President Donald Trump and his wealthy associate Elon Musk. This comes as they have swiftly moved to reshape governmental policies and widen executive powers.
Hundreds of individuals were flooding into central Washington as demonstrations commenced beneath overcast skies with a gentle rainfall. According to organizers, the gathering at the National Mall was anticipated to draw upwards of 20,000 participants.
The demonstrations in the U.S. will provide Trump’s critics with a chance to collectively express their discontent on a large scale following Trump's series of executive actions.
According to the event's website, approximately 150 activist organizations have registered to take part. Demonstrations are scheduled to occur across all 50 U.S. states as well as in 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 bearing messages like "No Monarchs in America" and "Send Musk Back."
Terry Klein, a former biomedical researcher from Princeton, New Jersey, was one of many who arrived early to gather near the stage beneath the Washington Monument.
She mentioned that she traveled down to participate in the demonstration against Trump’s policies ranging from immigration issues to the DOGE topic, as well as the recent tariff decisions and concerns about education. She emphasized that the entire nation is facing threats, with every institution and element that defines America being challenged.
A 75-year-old Army veteran and former trial lawyer named David Madden stated that he traveled from Dayton, Ohio, with the intention of protesting what he sees as "a widespread injustice plaguing our nation," along with "institutions being taken away from the American populace" and "confusion within court systems." He also expressed his belief that much of the population is fundamentally racist.
With Trump’s support, Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has swept across the U.S. government, cutting down over 200,000 positions from the total 2.3 million federal employees. Occasionally, this initiative has been disorganized and led to the reinstatement of essential experts.
On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service started dismissing over 20,000 employees, which constitutes up to 25% of its workforce.
A crowd of several hundred individuals assembled outside the Social Security Administration building, one of the leading targets for DOGE, close to Baltimore on Saturday. They protested against potential reductions in funding to the organization responsible for providing support to senior citizens and those with disabilities.
The atmosphere was one of anger and defiance following the agency's recent announcement of cutting down 7,000 employees and discontinuing phone services for millions of claimants.
DOGE members have been within the structure for several weeks now. A significant portion of the gathering, primarily comprising retired individuals, brandished self-made placards with messages such as "Where Is My Nation Now?", "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 that this could occur in the United States," she stated. "Despite loving my country, I feel devastated. I urgently need my funds. I demand my benefits!
In reply, the audience shouted, "The money is ours!"
The White House assistant press secretary, Liz Huston, refuted the allegation 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 Huston’s email, the Democratic Party supports providing Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to individuals without proper documentation, potentially leading to financial ruin of these programs and causing severe hardship for elderly Americans.
Many aspects of Trump's plans have been limited due to legal challenges arguing that he has exceeded his power by trying to dismiss civil servants, expel immigrants, and overturn transgender rights.
On January 20th, Trump resumed his term in office accompanied by numerous executive actions and initiatives criticized for aligning closely with the goals set forth by Project 2025—a highly conservative political movement aimed at overhauling governmental structures and strengthening presidential power. Supporters of Trump have commended him for displaying boldness deemed essential to challenge long-standing liberal factions.
Just hours ahead of the scheduled protests in the United States, many American expatriates opposing Trump in various European cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, and London assembled to express their disapproval of Trump's extensive overhaul of both U.S. foreign and domestic policies.
Around 200 individuals, predominantly Americans, assembled at Paris' Place de la Republique where they listened to various speakers and held up signs with messages such as "Stand Against Despotism," "Justice Under Law," "Feminists for 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 representative of Democrats Abroad, from his location in Frankfurt. Protester Jose Sanchez expressed similar sentiments, accusing Trump of being a fraud who is undermining American democracy.
(Reported by Jonathan Landay and Tim Reid from Washington. Further reports provided by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California, John Irish in Paris, Emma-Victoria Farr, Christian Mang, and Frank Simon in Berlin and Frankfurt; with contributions from Sarah Young in London. Written by James Oliphant; Edited by Frank McGurty, Toby Chopra, and Alistair Bell.)