People gathered in cities across the US on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump’s recent actions. The demonstrations focused on issues such as immigration policies, changes to transgender rights, and a proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.
Protesters in cities including Philadelphia and state capitols in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, and others held signs criticizing Trump, Elon Musk—who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—and Project 2025, a set of conservative policy proposals.
Hundreds of people also gathered in Washington, DC, to support USAID as the Trump administration moves to shut down the agency. The decision has led US workers worldwide to prepare for relocation and close down the organization’s six-decade mission.
“I’m appalled by democracy’s changes in the last, well, specifically two weeks – but it started a long time ago,” Margaret Wilmeth said a protester in Ohio was quoted as saying by news agency Associated Press. “So I’m just trying to put a presence into resistance.”
The protests were organized online under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Social media posts encouraged people to participate with messages such as “reject fascism” and “defend our democracy.”
Concerns over Musk’s role in government
In Lansing, Michigan, hundreds of people gathered in cold weather.
Catie Miglietti, from Ann Arbor, raised concerns about Musk’s access to treasury department data. She held a sign showing Musk as a puppeteer controlling Trump. “If we don’t stop it and get Congress to do something, it’s an attack on democracy,” Miglietti was quoted as saying by news agency AP.
Other protests criticized Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“DOGE is not legit,” read a sign in Jefferson City, Missouri, where protesters questioned Musk’s access to Social Security data.
Some members of US Congress have raised concerns that DOGE’s role in government financial systems could create security risks or disrupt payments for programs like Social Security and Medicare. A treasury department official said a tech executive working with DOGE would only have “read-only access.”
Nationwide protests
Since returning to office, Trump has signed multiple executive orders on trade, immigration, and climate policies. As opposition grows, protests have increased.
People marched through downtown Austin, Texas. In Atlanta, demonstrators gathered at Centennial Olympic Park before heading to the state Capitol. Protesters assembled outside California’s state legislature in Sacramento.
In Denver, demonstrations happened near an operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where some people were detained. In Phoenix, protesters chanted “Deport Elon” and “no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
LGBTQ+ protests in Alabama
In Alabama, several hundred people protested against policies affecting LGBTQ+ individuals.
On Tuesday, Alabama state governor Kay Ivey said she would sign a bill recognizing only two sexes, male and female. This follows Trump’s executive order requiring the federal government to define sex as only male or female.
“The president thinks he has a lot of power,” the Rev Julie Conrady, a Unitarian Universalist minister, told the crowd. “He does not have the power to determine your gender. He does not have the power to define your identity.”
