In the United States, the Trump administration's ruthless approach to the federal workforce, immigration, Ukraine, and DEI measures has sparked nationwide protests. DW spoke with Americans rallying in Washington, DC.
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00:00Hundreds chant in unison. Protests are spreading across the U.S. now more than ever.
00:07But in Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, anger runs deep.
00:12Here on Capitol Hill, protesters have aimed their fury at President Donald Trump and his administration.
00:20In his attempt to remake the federal government, Trump has started targeting long-standing institutions,
00:27in many cases challenging the U.S. Constitution itself.
00:32Democratic voters see his approach to geopolitics as brash and fear he is steering the U.S. towards isolation,
00:40weakening long-standing alliances.
00:44Many protesters here are former federal workers.
00:47They were laid off under a harsh cost-cutting plan driven by Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency,
00:55led by the world's richest man, Elon Musk.
00:59I was laid off two weeks ago. I work in public health. I'm an epidemiologist.
01:05And, yeah, I was fired because I was still a probationary employee and only had started last summer.
01:12Well, I think Trump and Musk are basically purging the government of anyone who disagrees with them.
01:19That's a big part of it. They're purging.
01:21They're deleting webpages that mention diversity, equity and inclusion, that mention trans people.
01:27They're attacking their opposition within the FBI and other institutions.
01:32Elon Musk was never elected. He wants to reduce his taxes for billionaires, and he's got all the money.
01:40These protests didn't just address domestic issues.
01:43Ukrainian flags waved across Capitol Hill as protesters demanded continued U.S. support
01:49for Ukraine's fight against Russia.
01:51Ukrainian community and as Americans that support Ukraine right now in this war against Russia's aggression,
01:57I think we're really concerned about the actions of this administration.
02:00It's devastating for us to be breaking, you know, 80 years of a transatlantic alliance
02:05and to be siding with fascist authoritarian regimes instead of our democratic allies is unconscionable.
02:14Within weeks of taking office, American President Donald Trump has shaken American democracy to its core.
02:20He has given his right-hand man, billionaire Elon Musk, the power to slash federal jobs.
02:25He has imposed tariffs on his allies and is threatening to impose even more.
02:30And while this is happening, he is ramping up mass deportations.
02:34There is little to no pushback from Republicans.
02:37And federal courts have tried to stall some of his executive actions.
02:41But most here fear that these damages are irreversible.
02:45But protesting against the Trump administration is becoming increasingly difficult.
02:51Trump has threatened to cut federal funding to universities that allow what he describes as illegal protests.