‘Hands Off’ protests send clear message to Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Tens of thousands of people gathered Saturday at rallies across the country to voice concerns over President Trump's actions since taking office.

The "Hands Off" protests were seen as the largest and most numerous protests since Trump's second term began. It was estimated that nationwide more than 500,000 people attended the hundreds of rallies, marches or protests organized by grassroots groups. The biggest protest was in D.C.

Others took to the streets in New York, Washington, Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco and dozens of other cities from coast to coast.

Protesters stretched as far as the eye could see along the National Mall and the crowd flowed toward the base of the Washington monument for hours.

People were waving American flags and Ukrainian flags. They carried signs protesting cuts to the Education Department and Social Security, supporting trans rights and urging people to vote and defend the Constitution. Some played drums and shouted from bull horns. Toddlers rode tricycles or their parents' shoulders. Dogs wore shirts declaring themselves "dogs against DOGE."

In Los Angeles, thousands of demonstrators turned out in Pershing Square to protest both the Trump administration and the role of billionaire advisor Elon Musk. The messages on demonstrator’s placards ranged from outrage to humor as speakers rallied the crowd for a march to City Hall, the LA Times reported.

In the Inland Empire, hundreds of protesters carried signs along Haven Avenue demanding that Trump steer clear of endangered federal programs.

Protesters gathered in Palms Springs and Rancho Mirage to speak out against the Trump administration's actions.

The White House had earlier dismissed the protests, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling USA TODAY that "protests, lawsuits, and lawfare" would not sway Trump "from delivering on the promises he made to make the federal government more efficient and more accountable." Trump was not in D.C. Saturday, hunkered down near his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.