In response to the various policies implemented by President Donald Trump and his administration, over 150 left-wing progressive groups in the United States organized large-scale protests on Saturday (April 5). The protests encompassed civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, and more. The White House swiftly responded to these protest voices, emphasizing President Trump’s commitment to safeguarding social welfare and criticizing the Democratic Party for supporting the expansion of immigration and welfare policies, which they believe benefit illegal immigrants.
According to media reports, on that day protests named “Hands Off!” were held in approximately 1,200 locations across all 50 states in the US, with responses also seen in countries like Canada and Mexico. In Washington D.C.’s National Mall, the organizers estimated around 20,000 people gathered to protest government spending cuts, tightening immigration policies, tariff measures, and the restructuring of federal agencies.
Major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston, and Florida also simultaneously held rallies, making it the largest nationwide demonstration since Trump’s return to the White House on January 20.
The protests spread to several locations in Europe as well, with hundreds of demonstrators, including American expatriates, holding protests in cities like Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany, Paris in France, and London in the UK.
Protesters particularly focused on the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” led by Tesla CEO and White House special advisor Elon Musk. Under Trump’s authorization, the department has undertaken a large-scale streamlining and restructuring of federal agencies, reportedly affecting 27 government departments and over 200,000 federal positions.
As of April 2, DOGE stated that through measures such as layoffs, asset sales, and contract terminations, they have saved approximately $140 billion for American taxpayers. Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also began laying off as many as 20,000 employees, accounting for around one-fifth of its total workforce.
In response to the protests, the White House released a statement affirming President Trump’s steadfast commitment to upholding social security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs for eligible individuals. The statement also criticized the Democratic Party’s proposal to extend these benefits to illegal immigrants, warning that it could bankrupt the welfare system and severely impact the rights of American seniors.
According to on-site media reports, the “Hands Off!” protests have been largely peaceful so far, without major violent incidents or acts of destruction. While isolated verbal conflicts have arisen in some areas, for example, a few Trump supporters engaging in debates with protesters in Washington D.C., it did not escalate into physical altercations, maintaining overall order at the scene.
(References from Reuters, Associated Press, and The Guardian)