‘Not my Presidents Day’: Thousands of Americans protest against Trump administration

Thousands of Americans took to the streets across the United States on Presidents’ Day to protest against President Donald Trump and his administration.

Demonstrators on Monday chanted slogans such as “No kings on Presidents Day” in East Coast cities and attempted to enter the Arizona Statehouse to oppose a bill aimed at bolstering federal immigration enforcement.

Protests were reported in several states, including Florida and California, where hundreds of people participated in “Not My Presidents Day” demonstrations. 

The movement, which carried the theme “No Kings,” was organised by the 50501 Movement and marked the second nationwide protest in less than two weeks. 

A similar wave of demonstrations on 5 February had drawn participants in dozens of cities. Both events were directed at President Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who heads the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

In Boston, nearly 1,000 people marched through the snow from the Statehouse to City Hall, chanting “Elon Musk has got to go” and other slogans despite wind chills in the teens. 

Some protesters wore Revolutionary War-style clothing and carried signs reading “This is a Coup” and “Cowards Bow to Trump, Patriots Stand Up.” Another sign depicted Uncle Sam with the message “I Want You to Resist.”

“I thought it was important to be here on Presidents Day to demonstrate for what America stands for,” said Emily Manning, a 55-year-old engineer from Boston who attended the rally with her teenage sons. “American values are not the values of the plutocracy or the limited few rich people.”

Organisers said the protests, which took place in major cities including Washington, D.C., Orlando, and Seattle, were focused on what they described as the “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.”

A large gathering in the nation’s capital included a sign that read “Deport Musk, Dethrone Trump.”

Despite bitterly cold temperatures across much of the country due to a polar vortex, demonstrators remained undeterred. 

The rallies came in response to a series of executive orders from President Trump and followed recent job cuts across federal agencies as part of an effort to shrink the government workforce. Many of the administration’s actions have already faced legal challenges.

In Phoenix, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the state Capitol, carrying signs such as “No Kings” and “Resist Fascism.” Security officers prevented demonstrators from entering the building after some attempted to gain access. 

Protesters sought entry to a state Senate committee hearing on a bill that would require law enforcement officers to support federal immigration policy.

Event organiser December Archer emphasised the need for a peaceful demonstration and intervened when tensions flared between security guards and protesters. 

“We’re trying to make sure everything stays civil and stays respectable because again, we’re here to make a statement, not be the statement,” she said.

The state Senate committee ultimately passed the measure in a party-line vote. Defending the legislation, Senate President Warren Petersen stated, “After the past four years of lawlessness at our border, it is imperative that every level of government supports efforts to safeguard our communities from the harms of illegal immigration. Arizona is a border state, and as such, we need to empower our sworn agents to enforce our laws and assist the Trump Administration’s efforts on this front.”

Critics of the bill argue that it encourages racial profiling, family separation, and the misuse of taxpayer dollars. “These types of bills are created and put forth to politicize with an issue of our humanity,” former state lawmaker Raquel Terán told KPHO. “That is the last priority of the voters in Arizona.”

Demonstrations were also held in cities including Denver, Dallas, Annapolis, Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. Meanwhile, counter-protests in support of President Trump took place in West Palm Beach, including a gathering outside Trump International Golf Club.

The 50501 Movement—standing for “50 protests, 50 states, one day”—is a grassroots effort aimed at opposing the policies and actions of the Trump administration.

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