This Presidents’ Day proved more controversial than years past, as thousands of people rallied in cities across the country to participate in “Not My Presidents’ Day” protests of Donald Trump and his regime.
The holiday normally reserved for paying respect to past leaders of the nation comes with a new movement with this Feb. 17 Presidents’ Day being the first under the new Trump administration. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States this past January and has started off his second, non-consecutive term with a series of controversial moves: including imposing high tariffs on ally countries, deporting a large number of South American immigrants, and threatening to annex the territory of multiple other countries around the globe. These moves have sparked outrage among citizens, some of whom went on to lead significant protests against the president in cities across the country including Seattle, Portland, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Miami, as well as outside of the country in London.
Locally, there were smaller yet still significant protests in Montgomery County, as protestors marched and displayed signs against the rich, unelected leaders who they believe are making biased decisions. One of their primary targets is Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency, which has been criticized in recent weeks for the actions it has taken against bureaucratic institutions. Included in a local protest in Annapolis was Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who posted on X, coincidentally Musk’s platform, at the rally, saying how he joined a “nationwide effort to defend our democracy against the illegal actions of autocrats and kleptocrats like Trump and Musk,” (@ChrisVanHollen, X).
According to an article published by mymcmedia.org, the other Montgomery County protests, which were held at Leisure World and Aspen Hill, involved over 200 residents each carrying signs through the cold, protesting against Elon Musk’s “dictatorship” and for “rule of law” in the government. These protests, as well as the efforts of Trump, have once again polarized the country, similar to how his actions did during his first presidency from 2016 to 2020. Sophomore EJ Anderson said that recent leaders have “caused a good amount of problems in the country.” Senior Lainey Berman agreed and said “It’s bad that everyone is so divided about politics,” and that regarding the country right now, “everything is so split.”
The widespread protests also demonstrate the strength of American rights as citizens, with the right to protest being protected under the First Amendment. People being able to express their opinions, whether for or against the government, is a key pillar of democracy, and the “Not My President” demonstrations are a clear expression of these freedoms. Regarding these protections, AP Government student and sophomore Noah Hurwitz said, “It’s fascinating to see the views people have on the presidency,” as they express themselves through protected speech.
