Amid chants, placards, and impassioned speeches during the largest day of protests since Donald Trump’s return to office, one figure in Washington, D.C. stood out — and it wasn’t a politician. It was Pikachu.

The beloved Pokémon mascot, now apparently moonlighting as a freedom fighter, was spotted bouncing through crowds at the National Mall, joining the wave of resistance against President Trump and his adviser Elon Musk. The appearance comes just days after a similar Pikachu protest scene unfolded in Turkey, where the yellow-costumed figure was seen dodging riot police amid political chaos.

Saturday’s rallies, branded under the “Hands Off!” campaign, spanned all 50 U.S. states, with more than 1,200 protests from Anchorage to Miami. Demonstrators came out in droves to denounce what they see as the Trump administration’s aggressive attempts to gut federal institutions, slash social programs, and muzzle civil liberties.

In Washington, activists took the stage, from Graylan Hagler, who warned, “They’ve woken up a sleeping giant,” to Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, who declared:

“They’re not just attacking policies. They’re attacking people.”

Protesters voiced anger over layoffs, immigration crackdowns, and the rollback of LGBTQ+ protections. Signs reading “Hands off our democracy” and “Hands off our Social Security” were spotted nationwide — though none quite outshone Pikachu, whose appearance went viral within hours.

Criticism wasn’t just aimed at Trump. Much of the fury centered on Elon Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with overseeing sweeping cuts across government programs. Musk’s defenders say he’s saving taxpayers billions. Protesters say he’s turning public service into a pile of “404 errors.”

The White House responded dismissively, insisting Trump is committed to protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — and accused Democrats of threatening these programs by offering them to undocumented immigrants.

Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, speaking at another rally, said:

“I refuse to raise my kids in a country where intimidation replaces leadership and diversity is seen as a threat.”

Witty and humorous protest signs from the Hands Off rallies targeting Trump and Musk have gone viral on the internet. On April 5, an impressive half-million Americans on April 5 flooded the streets in a powerful display of opposition during the nationwide “Hands Off!” protests, marking one of the most significant collective standouts against the Trump administration yet.

From the bustling streets of Washington, DC, to the sprawling cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, people from all walks of political life united to challenge federal job cuts, the erosion of vital social frameworks, and assaults on fundamental freedoms.

This massive outcry was spearheaded by a diverse alliance of civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ supporters, veterans, and election reform advocates, all zeroing in on their disapproval of President Donald Trump and his newly appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk.

Musk’s aggressive cost-reduction strategies, which propose closing Social Security offices, slashing Medicaid funds, and dismantling the Department of Education, have ignited widespread fury and become the centerpiece of the demonstrations.

Demonstrators brandished an array of signs and banners, voicing their concerns over everything from reversed climate policies to threats against immigrant rights. Infusing their protests with wit and satire, the crowd’s creativity shone through in their messaging.

One viral sign playfully twisted Trump’s discredited assertions about Haitian immigrants, reading, “They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats?”—a cheeky critique of diminishing governmental oversight.

Another sign humorously protested, “Don’t tax the penguins,” poking fun at Trump’s odd tariffs on distant Antarctic islands.

The ingenuity continued with slogans like “Orange Lies Matter,” “Even the introverts are here. That’s how bad it is,” and “Sorry World. We’re trying.” A particularly amusing sign came from a protest dog, proudly displaying, “I sniffed better policies on a fire hydrant.”

Another jabbed at political figures with, “JD Vance thinks I’m a miserable cat lady—and he’s half right.”

In a fiery show of defiance, tens of thousands took to the streets across the United States and Europe on Saturday, unleashing the largest wave of anti-Trump protests since his return to the White House.

From Washington’s National Mall to New York, Los Angeles, and London, demonstrators railed against Donald Trump’s aggressive downsizing of the government, crackdown on civil liberties and global trade wars.

The demonstrations were organized by a broad coalition of progressive groups under the banner “Hands Off,” with events held in over 1,000 locations across the US and even in parts of Europe. Issues cited by protestors ranged from government downsizing, civil liberties concerns, and abortion rights, to fears of economic instability due to aggressive trade measures.

In Washington, a large crowd gathered at the National Mall, with speakers from across the country criticizing what they described as a dangerous and authoritarian shift in American politics. Representative Jamie Raskin, who played a key role in Trump’s second impeachment, addressed the demonstrators, warning against a “dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

In New York, protestor Shaina Kesner criticized the leadership as privileged and unaccountable. Meanwhile, demonstrators in Los Angeles used creative symbolism, including dressing as characters from The Handmaid’s Tale to protest restrictive reproductive laws.

Across the Atlantic, rallies in cities such as London and Berlin echoed the disapproval. Protestors called out Trump’s foreign policies and his approach to global trade. In Berlin, one retiree went as far as to label Trump a “lunatic,” while others in London warned of global economic fallout.

One common thread across all protests was concern over the perceived erosion of civil rights and increasing authoritarian tendencies. Protestors warned against the jailing of opponents, attacks on immigrants, and pressure on democratic institutions. “We’re out here to stop the, honestly, fascism,” said Dominic Santella in Boston.

The economic direction under Trump also drew criticism. Many blamed his trade tariffs and diplomatic confrontations for market instability and international strain.

Despite the scale of the protests and dropping approval ratings, the White House has largely dismissed the unrest. President Trump remained defiant, stating, “My policies will never change,” reaffirming his stance on key issues.