Protest wave in the USA
Hundreds of thousands demonstrate against Trump and Musk
Updated on April 6th, 2025 – 10:01 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been changing the USA since the beginning of the year. Many people have now demonstrated against their approach – also in Germany.
Demonstrations against US President Donald Trump and his consultant Elon Musk took place in more than a thousand US cities and also in Europe on Saturday. More than 500,000 people had announced themselves in advance. In the US capital Washington, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall to go under the motto “Finger away!” to protest against Donald Trump’s government policy. The protest had been organized by a loose alliance of left -wing groups that had called for rallies nationwide. The demonstrating carried signs with inscriptions such as “Not my president!”, “Fingers away from the rule of law” and “stops destroying America”. The organizers spoke of “millions” participants in a total of more than 1,300 meetings. There were no official figures or estimates.
Since his take office again on January 20, 2025, Trump has been pursuing a comprehensive political realignment. These include mass layoffs of federal employees, the hiring of aid programs and an aggressive customs policy. Courts came to the conclusion that Trump had passed his constitutional skills several times. In addition to Trump, the focus of the criticism was also his consultant Elon Musk. The Tesla boss radically cuts state authorities and programs on behalf of the President.
According to the Reuters news agency, a total of 1,200 demonstrations were held in all 50 states on Saturday. Ezra Levin, co -founder of the organization Indivisible, said: “This is an enormous demonstration that sends a very clear message to Musk and Trump: We do not want you to get our democracy, communities, our schools, friends and our neighbors hands.”
Larger rallies were also reported in other US cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Observers awaited the greatest protests against Trump since he took office. Fewer participants had been expected than at the “Women’s March” in 2017 when half a million people demonstrated in Washington alone. Nevertheless, the day of action was considered a clear signal of resistance to the new government.
“We won’t sit down, we won’t be silent and we won’t go away,” said civil rights activist Graylan Hagler, according to AFP. And a 66-year-old demonstrator named Jane Ellen Saums said: “It is extremely worrying to see what happens to our government and that the separation of powers is completely overrun.”
There were protests against Trump and Musk outside of the United States. In Berlin, around 250 people gathered in front of a Tesla exhibition space. The organizers spoke of several hundred participants. Among other things, the organizations Campact, Fridays for Future and the alliance “Tesla turn off the rooster”.
The aim is to strengthen the protest movement against the government advisor Musk in Germany. “Elon Musk must not continue to undermine democratic structures unhindered,” said Caro Weber from the initiative “Testla turn off”. The police recorded an incident: one person showed a transparent that Elon Musk depicted with a Hitler greeting-like gesture. A spokesman said whether this is relevant under criminal law.
Demonstrations also took place in other European capitals, including London, Rome and Paris. In Frankfurt am Main, people also protested in front of a Tesla location. There were also rallies in Canada, Mexico and Great Britain.
