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On Saturday, large numbers of demonstrators opposing former President Trump gathered across various cities worldwide. These protests were driven by the consequences of tariffs and government agency reductions, marking a significant response to the administration’s policies.
The protests were sparked just days after Trump significantly affected the global economy by employing seldom-used emergency powers to impose tariff hikes on nearly every nation, leading to a substantial loss in market value.
Participants at the rallies voiced concerns over numerous administration policies, including aggressive trade tariffs, federal workforce layoffs, deportations of legal immigrants, attacks on transgender rights, potential military actions against Greenland, and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk.
Demonstrations also took place in European cities like London, Lisbon, and Paris, with additional protests occurring outside a Tesla showroom in Berlin. Tesla, and its CEO, have been frequent targets of these protests, which have included attacks on the company’s vehicles and dealerships across the U.S.
In Washington D.C., the largest congregation took place on the National Mall, where protesters held signs with slogans such as “Penguins against Tariffs,” “Send Musk to Mars,” and “Make my 401k Great Again.”
One protester, who requested to be identified only as Peter, traveled from Annapolis, Maryland to participate in the rally, citing perceived threats to democracy by Trump and Musk. Another demonstrator, Maya from Washington, expressed her opposition to “billionaire oligarchy” and concerns that tariffs are detrimental to the working class.
The ‘Hands Off!’ movement, which organized these protests in over 1,000 locations throughout the U.S., is backed by advocacy groups with focuses ranging from abortion rights to climate change. They aim to appeal to a broad spectrum of Americans by highlighting economic issues such as tariffs, the stock market downturn, and potential Social Security changes.
A digital flyer for the Washington rally read, “This mass mobilisation day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy.”
Organizers and Democratic leaders have used Musk’s declining popularity as a rallying point to mobilize protesters and voters. Recently, his favored candidate, Brad Schimel, was defeated in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which was widely interpreted as a public referendum on Musk.
Saturday’s protests were the first major demonstrations against the administration since Trump commenced his second term in January. In contrast to his first term, which saw extensive public opposition including events like the Women’s March, the current response from America’s left has been relatively restrained and disorganized.
The Democrats have been engaged in internal conflicts over strategies to counter the administration’s agenda, complicating efforts to deliver a united message.
Speakers at the Washington protest urged both Democratic and Republican congressional representatives to leverage their legislative powers to oppose Trump’s economic policies. Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, who played a prominent role in the Democratic impeachment efforts concerning the January 6 riot, criticized the tariffs as “imbecilic, illegal, and unconstitutional,” and vowed to reverse them.
