Thousands protest Trump administration policies in cities across US
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in cities across the U.S. on Wednesday to protest the Trump administration's early actions, decrying everything from the president's immigration crackdown to his rollback of transgender rights and a proposal to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Protesters in Philadelphia and at state capitols in Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana and beyond waved signs denouncing President Donald Trump; billionaire Elon Musk, the leader of Trump鈥檚 new Department of Government Efficiency; and Project 2025, a hard-right playbook for American government and society.
鈥淒emocracy is not a spectator sport! Do something,鈥� said a sign held aloft by one demonstrator in Philadelphia.
The protests were a result of a movement that has organized online under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. Websites and accounts across social media issued calls for action, with messages such as 鈥渞eject fascism鈥� and 鈥渄efend our democracy.鈥�
Outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered in freezing temperatures.
Catie Miglietti, from the Ann Arbor area, said Musk鈥檚 access to the Treasury Department data was especially concerning to her. She painted a sign depicting Musk puppeteering Trump from his outraised arm 鈥� evoking Musk鈥檚 straight-arm gesture during a January speech that some have interpreted as a Nazi salute.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 stop it and get Congress to do something, it鈥檚 an attack on democracy,鈥� Miglietti said.
Video below: Demonstrators gather in Concord, New Hampshire, as part of national protests against Trump
In Columbus, Ohio, protesters outside the Statehouse shouted, 鈥淲ake up USA! Stop the coup that's underway!鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 appalled by democracy鈥檚 changes in the last, well, specifically two weeks 鈥� but it started a long time ago,鈥� said Margaret Wilmeth, a self-described senior citizen from Columbus. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 just trying to put a presence into resistance."
Craig and Robin Schroeder drove nearly two hours from their home in Findlay for the demonstration. They described the appointment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a slap to Ohio's military families. The Senate narrowly confirmed Hegseth after questions from members in both parties over his qualifications to lead the military, especially amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women.
鈥淭his is my first protest ever, but I can鈥檛 imagine a more worthwhile one," said Robin Schroeder, 47.
Video below: Protester explains why she joined demonstration against President Trump's policies at California Capitol
Demonstrations in several cities piled criticism on Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
鈥淒OGE is not legit,鈥� read one poster on the state Capitol steps in Jefferson, Missouri, where dozens of protesters gathered. 鈥淲hy does Elon have your Social Security info???鈥�
Members of Congress have expressed concern that DOGE鈥檚 involvement with the U.S. government payment system could lead to security risks or missed payments for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. A Treasury Department official says a tech executive working with DOGE will have 鈥渞ead-only access.鈥�
The Missouri protesters chanted 鈥渨e will not bend down鈥� and 鈥渨e will not be silenced.鈥�
Video below: Boston group protests President Trump's early actions
Trump has signed a series of executive orders in the first couple of weeks of his new term on everything from trade and immigration to climate change. As Democrats begin to raise their voice in opposition to Trump鈥檚 agenda, protests have also begun.
In Alabama, several hundred people gathered outside the Statehouse to protest state and federal actions targeting LGBTQ people.
On Tuesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey promised to sign legislation declaring that there are only two sexes, male and female 鈥� echoing Trump's recent executive order for the federal government to define sex as only male or female.
鈥淭he President thinks he has a lot of power," said Patricia Todd, who was the state鈥檚 first openly gay lawmaker. 鈥淗e does not have the power to determine your gender. He does not have the power to define your identity.鈥�