Protests Erupt in Washington with Chants of "Trump Must Go"

Hundreds of people protested in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to demand the end of what they called the "fascist regime" of U.S. President Donald Trump. The demonstration coincided with the one-year anniversary of his election to a second term and followed a day after Republican defeats in several key local elections.

Under the banner of "Trump Must Go," demonstrators, convened by the platform Refuse Fascism, began their protest near the Washington Monument and commenced a march toward the Capitol building and the Supreme Court.

The protesters celebrated the Democratic victories in Tuesday's local contests, such as those in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey, with chants and signs. They viewed these results as a significant setback for the Republican administration.

Some participants commented on Trump's reaction, in which he attributed the losses to his name not being on the ballot and to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has lasted for 36 days due to a budget impasse.

"For the first time, he unintentionally told the truth. If he wants to take responsibility for having lost these elections, he is correct," Lalanya Brun, a war veteran, told the EFE news agency.

This event also coincided with the anniversary of Trump's victory in the November 5, 2024, presidential election—a day that, according to protest attendees, "was the consequence of all his lies."

Issues such as the government shutdown, the longest in national history, and criticisms of immigration policies were central focuses of the protests.

Sarah Glover, one of the more than 700,000 federal employees affected by the shutdown, accused Trump of "intentionally making people suffer."

Other demonstrators, like Evelyn, called on Democrats to show "more courage" in standing up to the president and reaching a Congressional agreement to end the stalemate.

Many attendees traveled from other parts of the country to participate in the protests. "I have eight grandchildren; I am here today for them," said an emotional Run Mercier, who traveled eight hours from Boston to reach the capital.