Protests targeting President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk were held Saturday in several liberal-leaning cities across the United States.
Demonstrations occurred in urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., but turnout remained modest, and messaging remained largely consistent with slogans seen in past election cycles.
Organized primarily through social media platforms and progressive networks, the protests were billed as expressions of opposition to what organizers referred to as the “authoritarian agenda” of President Trump’s second term and what they labeled as “corporate overreach” by Musk, CEO of X and SpaceX.
The events marked some of the first nationally coordinated anti-Trump protests since the president’s re-election in 2024, but initial reporting and eyewitness accounts suggest the events were smaller and less energized compared to earlier protest movements such as the Women’s March in 2017 or Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020.
In New York City, approximately a few hundred people gathered in Union Square, holding signs and chanting slogans opposing Trump’s economic policies and Musk’s business dealings.
Several protestors expressed concern about Trump’s renewed use of tariffs and what they described as attacks on academic freedom and immigration enforcement actions targeting student visa holders involved in campus unrest.
“We’re here to show that not everyone supports what’s happening in Washington,” one protestor told a local outlet.
“We reject the hate and the corporate collusion.”
In San Francisco, demonstrators focused more heavily on Musk, with signs criticizing his ownership of X, as well as his influence in technology and political conversations.
Some attendees cited concerns over content moderation and alleged disinformation, though they did not provide specific examples when asked by reporters.
Despite the online promotion of the events, many of the protests saw lower-than-expected participation.
In several cases, protestors were outnumbered by journalists, police, and counter-protestors.
Footage circulating online showed sparse gatherings and signs featuring recycled slogans, with little clarity on specific policy goals.
The protests were covered by several national media outlets, with some commentators noting that the demonstrations were largely confined to urban centers where Democratic voter majorities are firmly established.
There were no reports of large-scale disruptions or arrests as of Saturday evening.
President Trump, who has not directly addressed the protests, has continued to focus on economic and immigration policy in recent weeks.
His administration’s enforcement actions on college campuses and new tariff plans have drawn international attention, particularly following responses from the United Kingdom and other trade partners.
Elon Musk has also not commented publicly on the demonstrations.
In recent months, Musk has remained active on X, where he frequently engages with political and cultural issues and has defended his platform’s approach to free speech.
While some activists described Saturday’s events as the beginning of a new wave of progressive mobilization, critics noted the lack of new messaging or clear direction.
The protests appeared to largely reflect opposition to Trump’s return to office rather than any coordinated legislative or electoral strategy.
Officials in cities where demonstrations took place confirmed that police maintained a presence at protest sites to ensure safety, but no major incidents were reported.
As the Trump administration continues to roll out policy changes in its second term, political observers expect further demonstrations and organizing efforts.
However, the scope and influence of those efforts remain uncertain as Democratic leaders regroup following the 2024 election loss.
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