Photos: Hundreds of Americans protest against Trump and Musk in Paris
‘Our goal is not anti-American but anti-oligarch’, says organiser of the ‘Hands off’ demonstration
Around 350 people gathered at Place de la République in Paris on Saturday afternoon
Kent Hudson
Hundreds of Americans gathered in central Paris on Saturday (April 5) to protest against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, joining a broader international movement with similar demonstrations around the world.
Around 1,200 protests took place across US cities the same day. While no official figures are available, the Democratic Party estimates that up to 700,000 people participated.
Dozens of related protests occurred in Europe, coordinated by the Democratic Party’s overseas group, Democrats Abroad.
In Paris, organisers said around 350 people gathered at Place de la République on Saturday afternoon.
“People felt empowered to be there and do something,” organiser Kent Hudson told The Connexion. “We tried to pull something together to join in the April 5 date, and people just jumped on board.
“The French media were supportive too - happy to report that Americans are speaking out against Trump.”
Mr Hudson, a retired small business owner who has lived in France for 48 years, said he does not usually participate in such movements.
“The Trump presidency has drawn me back in, and there are many people like me. It’s truly astonishing to witness the economic disaster unfold, and it’s concerning to see how it could lead to anti-American sentiment.”
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‘Anti-oligarch’ protest
The protest, titled ‘Hands Off’, was as much against Donald Trump's ‘America First’ policies and tariffs as it was against billionaire Elon Musk’s growing influence in the U.S. government.
“I spoke to two people on Saturday who had lost their jobs at USAID. Our goal is not anti-American but anti-oligarch,” said Mr Hudson.
“Hopefully it can help put some pressure on our elected officials. Even Elon Musk came out the next day saying he wants to create a ‘free trade’ zone with the EU - which just shows what a mess the thinking behind it is.”
The global economy has been shaken by Mr Trump’s announcement of 20% ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on goods from the EU.
The EU has stated that it will attempt to convince Mr. Trump to reverse the decision; however, reciprocal tariffs on US goods remain a possibility.
‘Everyone should get involved’
“Around half of the people at the protest signed up to Democrats Abroad,” said Mr Hudson. “Not all of them were American - but we welcome everyone.
“Of course, only American members can vote and that is the key. In the 2020 election, Democrats won two states thanks to the expat vote, and Democrats Abroad are very active in organising this.
“The focus now must be on motivating our elected officials to resist, and building momentum ahead of the midterm elections in 2026.”
