The Morning After the March

On April 6, 2025, one day after millions of Americans rallied in the streets against the Trump administration’s authoritarian economic agenda, the question echoing across the country was simple: did anyone in power hear them?

The “Hands Off!” protests, unprecedented in scale, unfolded across all 50 states. Protesters demanded an end to mass layoffs, the gutting of federal agencies, rising corporate power, and the growing influence of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. It was a thunderous rejection of government by deregulation and privatization. But less than 24 hours later, the federal government remained unmoved.

Silence at the Top

President Trump made no formal statement about the demonstrations. Musk posted a meme mocking protesters, suggesting that “crying is not a function of government.” The Department of Government Efficiency released a single-line press release: “Our mandate remains.”

In Congress, Republican leadership remained quiet. A few centrist Democrats issued statements of support but stopped short of calling for hearings or legislation. Senate Majority Leader Max Vought dismissed the protests as “coastal noise.”

The Machinery Rolls On

Despite the protests, layoffs continued at the EPA, Department of Education, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. New executive orders are expected within days, reportedly targeting Medicaid eligibility and nationalized student loan servicing.

Markets, having already absorbed the shock of Trump’s blanket tariffs, barely registered the protests. Financial outlets instead focused on BlackRock’s potential acquisition of Hutchison Ports near the Panama Canal, a deal the administration has quietly backed.

A Loud Warning, Ignored?

The protest wasn’t just a call for change. It was a warning: that the American public is paying attention, and deeply alarmed. But the administration’s indifference — and the media’s fragmented attention — raises a darker question.

What happens when a government stops listening altogether?

The people spoke on April 5. They shouted. But power did not blink.