Global wave of ‘Hands Off!’ protests signals international rejection of Trump’s agenda

In Berlin, Paris, London — A New Resistance Emerges

The tremors of civil unrest that began on American soil have now reverberated across Europe. On April 5, 2025, thousands poured into the streets of Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, London, and Lisbon in a sweeping show of defiance against the escalating authoritarianism of US President Donald Trump and his administration’s global ambitions.

From American expatriates to outraged European citizens, voices united under one banner: “Hands Off!”

What began as a coordinated protest across all 50 U.S. states has evolved into an international movement. The world is watching — and now, the world is marching.

Berlin: “Shut Up Elon, No One Voted for You”

In Germany’s capital, protesters gathered outside Tesla’s Berlin showroom, where fury was directed not just at President Trump but also at his influential advisor Elon Musk. With signs that read “Shut up Elon, no one voted for you,” demonstrators condemned the privatization of governance and the billionaire elite’s encroachment on democracy.

Frankfurt also saw large turnout, with placards demanding “Restore Democracy” and calls to protect civil liberties from surveillance-state tactics and executive overreach.

The demonstrations were organized in part by Democrats Abroad, though attendance stretched well beyond party lines.

Paris: Feminists and Expatriates for Democracy

In Place de la République, approximately 200 demonstrators — mostly American expatriates — formed a vocal front in Paris. The crowd chanted:

“Feminists for Freedom, Not Fascism”
“Save Democracy”
“Trump is the Symptom. Authoritarianism is the Disease.”

They decried mass layoffs in U.S. federal agencies, healthcare cuts, and transnational policy impacts such as new tariffs and the rollback of climate agreements.

London: Trafalgar Square Sends a Global Message

In Trafalgar Square, the heart of Britain’s protest tradition, demonstrators held high banners reading:
“No to MAGA Hate”,
“Dump Trump”, and
“We Are Watching.”

The UK protests were among the largest in Europe, drawing media coverage and political attention. Organizers cited rising fears over Trump’s economic nationalism, tariff wars, and the erosion of international democratic norms.

Lisbon and Beyond: Global Sentiment, Shared Concerns

While smaller in scale, Lisbon’s demonstrations echoed the broader message. Citizens joined American expatriates to denounce Washington’s abrupt imposition of economic policies that many see as reckless and destabilizing. Solidarity chants in Portuguese and English rang through Praça do Comércio.

Why the World Is Protesting an American President

Unlike past U.S. administrations, Trump’s 2025 term is increasingly viewed not just as a domestic crisis, but as a global concern. Protesters across Europe emphasized that:

• Tariffs and economic disruption are already being felt in EU markets.
• Diplomatic isolationism is eroding multilateral cooperation.
• Elon Musk’s growing influence over policy without accountability is a red flag for both technocracy and democracy.
• Civil rights rollbacks in the U.S. serve as cautionary tales for fragile democracies elsewhere.

A New Era of Transatlantic Solidarity?

This weekend’s events may well mark the start of a new global protest era, where American and European citizens jointly oppose power structures that threaten shared democratic values. “Hands Off!” is no longer just a U.S. outcry — it is a planetary warning.

The message from Europe is clear: autocracy has no borders — and neither does resistance.

As the international front of the “Hands Off!” movement gains momentum, pressure mounts not only on Washington but on world leaders who continue to engage with Trump’s regime without scrutiny. From Berlin to Lisbon, the West is witnessing a new wave of civil awakening.

The Eastern Herald will continue to follow this movement with exclusive analysis, direct reporting, and the uncompromising editorial independence the world deserves.