Thousands Rally Nationwide on May Day Against Trump and Musk

 WASHINGTON – On the morning of May 1, hundreds of demonstrators gathered just blocks from the White House as part of a sweeping wave of nationwide protests targeting the Trump administration, its policies, and the influence of billionaire backers. Organizers have framed the effort as a response to what they describe as "a war on working people."

More than 1,000 rallies are planned across all 50 states and internationally, coinciding with May Day—also known as International Workers’ Day. The events are being coordinated by the volunteer-led 50501 movement, which has been central to a surge in grassroots activism this year, alongside unions, student coalitions, and local advocacy groups.

One of the largest demonstrations is expected in Washington, D.C., where the "May Day Movement USA" will host a major rally on the National Mall. In Philadelphia, Senator Bernie Sanders is slated to speak at the "Workers over Billionaires" rally organized by the city’s AFL-CIO chapter.

Protest organizers say the demonstrations are a direct challenge to President Donald Trump and key allies such as Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has overseen deep cuts to the federal workforce. Critics accuse the administration and its wealthy supporters of undermining labor rights, dismantling unions, and silencing marginalized communities, particularly immigrants.

"We’re fighting for a nation that prioritizes families over fortunes, public education over private profit, and healthcare over hedge funds," read a statement on the organizers' website.

The protests come shortly after Trump's 100th day back in office and amid declining approval ratings. His administration has enacted major layoffs across federal agencies, triggered a trade conflict with China through sweeping tariffs, and launched a deportation initiative that has spurred intense legal battles.

Among the demonstrators near the White House was Jennifer Ives, a public school teacher from Germantown, Maryland, who said she was protesting the administration’s treatment of immigrant families. She cited the recent deportation of three U.S.-born children—including one with cancer—to Honduras as an example of what she sees as an increasingly hostile government.

“It’s getting hard to recognize this country,” Ives said. 

Standing beside her, Monica Berlin held a sign that read “Inhuman, Callous, Evil.” A 54-year-old account manager at a security company, Berlin said the national protests have offered her a rare sense of hope. “This is one of the few things that lifts us up and keeps us going,” she said.