Unlike eight years ago, public resistance is only slowly forming in Trump’s second term. Now, many thousands have taken to the streets to protest Trump‘s tariffs, harsh measures against migrants, and mass layoffs.
In many places across the United States, thousands of people protested against President Donald Trump’s policies. According to the New York Times, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Washington Monument near the White House in the US capital alone. Large protests also took place in dozens of other cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, and Chicago.
Various organizations had jointly called for a nationwide day of action with more than 1,300 events in every US state – under the motto “Hands Off.” Organizers had anticipated hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide – 600,000 people are said to have registered for the demonstrations.
In the end, they stated that millions of people participated. However, there are no reliable figures yet. The police in the capital, Washington, for example, did not provide their own estimate, even when asked. However, photos and videos of large gatherings of people in many places across the country circulated on social media.
According to the New York Times, the protest march stretched for nearly 20 blocks along New York’s famous Fifth Avenue, and thousands demonstrated in Chicago. Police reported that more than 20,000 people participated in Atlanta. These are believed to be by far the largest demonstrations of Trump’s second term. Many of the larger demonstrations took place in cities and states that traditionally vote for the Democrats.
Trump opponents awaken from shock?
In the first weeks after taking office, Trump made decisions at a dizzying pace, signed executive orders, and kept the world on edge with one outrage after another. Many citizens, including members of the Democratic Party, seemed to be in a state of shock for weeks. There were no protests for a long time.
Public resistance from Trump’s opponents is only slowly forming, including among Democrats. A few days ago, Democratic Senator Cory Booker attracted considerable attention with a 25-hour marathon speech against Trump in Parliament. Recently, former Democratic US President Barack Obama and Trump’s campaign opponent Kamala Harris also spoke out critically after a long period of silence.
“Hands off democracy”
At the nationwide rallies, people protested against the dismantling of US agencies, including the Department of Education, against the cuts in foreign aid, against migration policy – against basically everything that Trump and his administration stand for.
In Washington, demonstrators held signs demanding, among other things, the defense of the Constitution, the removal of Trump from office, and the cessation of social security. Signs read, for example, “Hands off democracy” and “Stop the coup.”
Sharp criticism also of Musk
The criticism was directed not only against Trump himself, but also against US billionaire Elon Musk, who, in the view of many demonstrators, interferes too much in government affairs.
In New York, despite the drizzle, thousands demonstrated against Trump and Musk, the head of the electric car company Tesla. In Bryant Park, demonstrators held signs with slogans like “Pull the plug on Elon” and “I can only write this because there was a Department of Education.”
Demonstrations also in Europe
There were also demonstrations against Trump and Musk in European capitals such as Berlin, Rome, and Paris. Hundreds of people took to the streets in the British capital, London – including several Americans living in the UK.
In Berlin, an event was specifically directed against Musk. Hundreds of people gathered in front of a Tesla showroom to protest against the US billionaire. Police said there were about 250 participants, while organizers estimated hundreds.
