'Hands off' protest against Trump, Musk

Some 1,200 demonstrations are planned across the  US on Saturday in what organizers expect to be the largest single day of protest against President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally,  Elon Musk, since the administration launched its rapid-fire effort to put a conservative stamp on the government. The "Hands Off!" protests will give Trump opponents an opportunity to demonstrate their displeasure en masse in response to Trump's sweeping makeover of the US. foreign and domestic policy through executive orders.

"This is an enormous demonstration that is sending a very clear message to Musk and Trump and congressional Republicans and all the goose-stepping allies of MAGA that we don't want their hands on our democracy, on our communities, on our schools and our friends and our neighbors," said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the groups organizing Saturday's events. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Trump or Musk.

Some 150 activist groups have signed up to participate, according to the event's website. Events are planned in all 50 states of the US plus Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Mexico and Portugal. One of the biggest rallies is expected on Washington's National Mall. Trump returned to office on January 20 with a stream of executive orders and other measures critics say are aligned with an agenda outlined by Project 2025, a deeply conservative political initiative to reshape government and consolidate presidential authority.