A movement to oppose President Donald Trump organized under the hashtags #buildtheresistance and #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, is looking to spark nationwide protests on Wednesday. Organized largely online, many of the protests are planned at state capitols, with some in other cities.
Hundreds are also rallying in Washington, D.C., in support of USAID as the Trump administration seeks to dismantle the government agency aid, sending U.S. workers around the world scrambling to pack up households and shutter the institutions six-decade mission.
Here’s the latest:
Demonstrators gather outside the Arizona State Capitol
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday, waving signs opposed to Trump and Musk while chanting “stop the coup,” “deport Elon” and “no hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!”
Karolyn Switzer, 82, of Payson, Arizona, said she and a friend drove 90 minutes to attend because she was “thoroughly disgusted” with the way Trump and Musk have been running the country. She said she was especially concerned by the potential for the removal or reduction of services and benefits to a myriad of federal programs, including Social Security and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She was frightened by other recent moves by Trump and Musk.
“It scares me to see a bunch of young, inexperienced computer nerds in places like the U.S. Treasury,” said Switzer, a retired computer programmer with 49 years of experience. She was referring to Wired’s recent reporting that a group of young engineers was enlisted to work for the Department of Government Efficiency, the special commission headed by Musk.
Hundreds of people protest in Sacramento
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside of the California Capitol building in Sacramento to oppose the Trump administration’s actions and rhetoric.
Rallygoers yelled chants and held signs that decried Trump as a threat to democracy, diversity, immigrants and LGBTQ+ Americans.
“Hey, hey! Ho, ho! His tyranny has got to go,” protesters chanted at one point. One person held a sign that read: “Mexicans aren’t going anywhere.” Many waved American flags.
The demonstration comes days after the state Legislature, which is dominated by Democrats, approved bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign to help protect the state’s progressive policies from challenges by the White House.
More than 2,000 people protest at Minnesota Capitol
Over 2,000 protesters bundled up and braved wind chills at around 5 degrees F (-15 C) on the steps of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul, including several hundred who marched from a nearby college.
The crowd far exceeded the 200 people originally estimated by organizers before word spread on social media.
Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera, executive director of Common Cause Minnesota, told the protesters through a megaphone that they need to hold power accountable.
“We, the people, are the ultimate power in our democracy,” Belladonna-Carrera said.
Those protesting expressed their anger not just at Trump but also Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Some signs read “Impeach Trump,” “Impeach President Musk and the Other One,” and “Nobody Elected Elon.”
USAID has a big impact across the globe
The United States is the world’s largest source of foreign assistance by far, although several European countries allocate a much bigger share of their budgets.
While aid to Africa dwarfs the roughly $2 billion that Latin America receives annually, the Western Hemisphere has long been a spending priority of both Democratic and Republican administrations.
