Hands Off protest Chicago today: Groups rally against Donald Trump, Elon Musk at Daley Plaza, in Berwyn, Gurnee, Joliet and more
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — Opponents of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are rallying across the Chicago area on Saturday to protest the administration and its actions.

More than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations were planned by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists across the country.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Saturday’s protest sites include the National Mall in Washington, D.C., state capitols and other locations in all 50 states.

A rally at Chicago’s Daley Plaza started at noon. Demonstrations are also being held in suburbs like Berwyn, Gurnee, Palatine and Joliet on Saturday.

Protesters have assailed the Trump administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies, deport immigrants, scale back protections for transgender people and cut federal funding for health programs.

Musk, a Trump adviser who owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X, has played a key role in government downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. He says he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the president plans to go golfing again Sunday, according to the White House.

Asked about the protests, the White House said in a statement that “President Trump’s position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”

Activists have staged nationwide demonstrations against Trump or Musk multiple times since Trump returned to office. But the opposition movement has yet to produce a mass mobilization like the Women’s March in 2017, which brought thousands of women to Washington, D.C., after Trump’s first inauguration, or the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities after George Floyd’s killing in 2020.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau make subtle Instagram debut amid romance

Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau Spark Romance Buzz with Subtle Instagram Debut

Katy Perry has taken to Instagram to subtly introduce her new beau,…
Portland police accuse federal troops of inflaming anti-ICE protests, which city claims have not been violent

Portland Police Blame Federal Agents for Escalating Peaceful Anti-ICE Protests

A top Portland police official testified on Wednesday, asserting that the deployment…
KC Neufeld, right, shops with her family in Englewood, Colo., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.

SNAP Cuts Shift Halloween Tradition: Ramen Replaces Candy in Trick-or-Treat Bags

When KC Neufeld shared a post on her Denver neighborhood’s Facebook page…
New Jersey Homeland Security raid captures 46 undocumented workers at Avenel warehouse

New Jersey Homeland Security Raid Uncovers 46 Undocumented Workers at Avenel Warehouse

On Thursday, federal officials announced the arrest of at least 46 undocumented…
Halloween 2025: Why candy is getting more expensive and less chocolate-y

Halloween 2025: Unwrapping the Rising Costs and Diminishing Chocolate in Your Candy Bag

This Halloween, the cost of indulging your sweet tooth is set to…
Vestavia Hills Police Department clears package feared to be an explosive device that had been brought to the station

Vestavia Hills Police Safely Neutralize Suspicious Package at Station, Confirm No Explosive Threat

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (WIAT) — The Vestavia Hills Police Department has successfully…
Bryan Kohberger is being sent money by STRANGERS while behind bars

Strangers Provide Financial Support to Incarcerated Bryan Kohberger

Prosecutors have revealed that Bryan Kohberger, a convicted murderer, is receiving financial…
Tom Brady blames fatherhood and $375m Fox job for making him sick

Tom Brady Cites Fatherhood and Lucrative $375M Fox Deal as Sources of Stress and Illness

In his latest newsletter, Tom Brady shared a candid moment, reflecting on…