Anti-Trump protests spread across the US as 50501 rallies on Presidents Day

# Anti-Trump protests spread across the US as 50501 rallies on Presidents Day

*Event date: February 17, 2025*

Groups opposed to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk rallied across the United States on Presidents Day, with the 50501 movement helping organize the latest wave of demonstrations.

The USA Today report describes a national day of protest that reached the U.S. Capitol, New York City, Austin, Denver, Philadelphia, Tallahassee and Cincinnati. The tone varied from city to city, but the target was consistent: anger at the administration’s direction, Musk’s influence and the layoffs of thousands of federal workers.

The 50501 movement - shorthand for 50 states, 50 protests, one day - said it was responding to what it sees as a constitutional crisis. In the supplied account, the group said it was alarmed by pressure on democratic guardrails and by what it described as the consolidation of power for personal gain. The movement says its network was built through Reddit, Instagram, Bluesky and Discord, giving it a social-media backbone rather than a formal party structure.

In Washington, thousands gathered outside the Capitol. In New York, protesters marched behind a “Stop the GOP coup” banner. In Texas, Austin crowds chanted against Musk. In Colorado, a smaller group rallied near Rocky Mountain National Park, while in Denver the local NAACP chapter held a “buy in” at Costco to support the company’s diversity policies. In Philadelphia, families joined a march through the city, while in Tallahassee and Cincinnati demonstrators focused on immigration, public safety and the influence of Musk over government restructuring.

The reporting also shows how the anti-Trump protest movement is trying to stretch beyond the usual Washington target. Organizers said they wanted people in local communities to hear them as well. That helps explain why some of the demonstrations had a civic or consumer angle rather than a purely partisan one.

The day’s coverage also captured a split in public sentiment. The report quotes supporters of the administration who say Trump won a lawful election and is doing what he promised. Protesters answered that the federal job cuts and the broader direction of the White House were eroding rights and accountability.

The scale of the rallies suggests the movement can still turn a social-media call into a national event. Whether that energy persists will depend on whether the protests remain a one-day expression of anger or become a regular feature of the political calendar.