White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted Democrats on Monday, calling them "lunatics" for their “Hands Off” protests against President Trump. She questioned the party's direction and asked how voters could “take them seriously.”
Karoline Leavitt: The Democrat Party has been completely captivated by these far-left lunatics. And I'm not sure which Democrat on Capitol Hill is going to stand up and be the sensible voice, but I won't hold my breath and best of luck to them if one chooses to stand out. They are enjoying their lowest approval rating ever because this is who they are trying to represent. These far-left activists who don't stand for anything, they only stand against Donald Trump, and they hate. As you just heard from that one individual who wished death upon the President of the United States, they not just hate him, they hate the nearly 80 million Americans who elected him. The Democrats have officially become the party of crazy. President Trump and the Republicans are the party of common sense.
Over 1,200 “Hands Off!” rallies took place across all 50 states. Major protests happened at the National Mall and state capitol buildings. Protesters objected to Trump’s policies, including federal downsizing, reciprocal tariffs, and immigration reform.
In response, the White House issued a statement to the Associated Press. “President Trump’s position is clear: He will always protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” it said. The statement accused Democrats of wanting to give benefits to illegal immigrants, “which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.”
Protesters also opposed the Israel-Hamas war and the slashing of DEI programs. Other issues raised included federal layoffs and deportation policies.
Trump’s administration has rolled back diversity mandates and what it calls “woke ideology.” Officials say it’s about restoring merit and ending divisive identity politics.
DEI programs cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion at public universities alone, according to a Goldwater Institute report. The administration argues this spending is unnecessary and wasteful.
Some protesters insisted the U.S. should support the underprivileged. But in 2023, federal agencies reported $236 billion in improper payments for social programs. That figure came from the Government Accountability Office.