Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Protestors in Salt Lake City demonstrated against Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
- They accused Trump of authoritarianism and criticized Musk's influence over American policy.
- Protestors aimed to show solidarity with marginalized groups and reclaim the term "patriot."
SALT LAKE CITY — Chants of "eat the rich" and "Musk must go" echoed off the Capitol Building Wednesday afternoon as hundreds of Utahns protested against the Trump administration.
Protestors accused President Donald Trump of leading an authoritarian movement and held signs reading "Stop the steal... of my country" — borrowing the "stop the steal" chants shouted by Trump supporters who falsely believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
A significant portion of the anger was directed not just at Trump, but at Elon Musk — the world's richest man and Trump's largest benefactor — who has sought to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development as a "special government employee." They cast Musk as an oligarch who uses his vast wealth to have an unprecedented influence over American policy.
"I'm opposed to voter suppression and unelected (expletive) like — pardon my French — Elon Musk running parts of our government," said Robert Mayhew, a Sugar House resident who spoke with KSL.com at the protest. "I don't think he has any right to, and I hope he gets called on it, desperately."
The protest was the first major public backlash against Trump in Utah since he took the oath of office just over two weeks ago and corresponded to similar demonstrations across the country against Trump and Project 2025 — a conservative policy blueprint for a second Trump administration.
Trump's second inauguration wasn't met with the same public opposition as his first, but demonstrators on Wednesday said they are even more concerned about what Trump will do in his second term.
"I think, basically, it's kind of a dictatorship all of a sudden in the last two weeks," said a Farmington resident who only provided his initials, M.S. "I don't think anybody really realizes what they've gotten themselves into — at least half of the country. I think the more people that bring attention to everything, the more of the other side will kind of see that and maybe start recognizing they need to do something about it as well."
Top Utah leaders were asked about the protests during a daily press availability, and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said Trump's efforts on illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking were addressing issues Americans of all stripes have wanted action on.
"I think people are a little frustrated, but I also think President Trump's moving forward, and it's not going to be business as usual, and I think some of it's actually refreshing that we've got a president who will hit issues head on, deal with them and try to get things changed," Adams said. "And we blame Washington over and over again for lack of performance. We say Utah — we do things in Utah, but the federal government doesn't. Now, the federal government's doing things, and we're going to react to him, but I think we need to give him some time to see the results of his action."
"I think to actually criticize something before the policy's actually had a chance to have the effect that they're trying to achieve, I think it's probably premature," he added.
Protestors were unbothered by the wind and rain in Salt Lake City and congregated for well over an hour outside the Capitol where lawmakers were gathered for the annual legislative session. Many carried American flags and signs denigrating Trump, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and calling for Musk to be "deported to Mars."
The organizers sought to reclaim the mantle of "patriot" for those opposed to the current administration, chanting: "We are the real patriots." Many protestors said they don't expect their actions Wednesday to lead to direct change in Washington but that they hoped to show solidarity with immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community and others who feel targeted by Trump, as well as show their displeasure with politicians who are seen as in lockstep with Trump.
"We do have a U.S. Constitution and a Utah Constitution. What I'd like for (Republicans) to do is to read them both thoroughly and understand what it means and follow it, because they're not," Mayhew said.
"I think of this protest as more for morale-boosting rather than change," Provo resident Susan Krueger-Barber said. To elected officials, she said: "Please choose your conscience. Please think of your constituents and their needs, and don't get caught up in a movement. Don't be afraid to not be elected ... and see us face to face and as whole people, all the people who are marginalized."
