In a stunning display of political irony, over 20,000 protesters filled the streets of downtown Boston today to oppose President Donald Trump’s aggressive push to eliminate government waste and fraud — a move the administration has championed as a cornerstone of its plan to restore fiscal responsibility.
But the crowd, waving anti-Trump and anti-Musk signs, seemed to have a different agenda.
“We’re here to say enough with the cuts, enough with the audits, and enough with the targeting of programs that help the people,” one protester shouted through a megaphone.
Bizarrely, protesters are demanding an end to efforts aimed at rooting out corruption and inefficiency in federal agencies — efforts that most Americans typically support. Many signs accused the Trump administration of “weaponizing accountability,” while others blamed tech billionaire Elon Musk for supporting government streamlining and exposing bureaucratic bloat.
Trump & Musk: A Common Target
While Trump has been leading the charge from the White House, Elon Musk — through his influence on policy and massive online platform — has openly supported efforts to slash wasteful spending and bring private-sector efficiency to bloated federal operations.
That stance has earned Musk the ire of progressive activists who accuse him of helping “dismantle” the administrative state.
“They’re trying to cut jobs, shut down departments, and kill off programs we’ve had for decades — that’s what this really is,” said one protester wearing a “Resist Trump” shirt.
Local Response and Security Measures
Boston police confirmed they had mobilized additional officers to handle the large crowd, though so far the protests have remained peaceful. Roads around City Hall and the Financial District were blocked off throughout the afternoon.
Critics of the protest are calling it “absurd” and “a defense of corruption,” asking why anyone would rally against the removal of fraud and waste from government systems.
