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A protest against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk is scheduled for Saturday in St. Cloud.The St. Cloud protest is part of a larger nationwide campaign called “Hands Off!”Organizers are protesting cuts to the federal government made by Trump and Musk.

A protest is expected to take place in St. Cloud this Saturday.

The Granite City is hosting one of the roughly 1,000 protests expected nationwide this weekend. The events are part of a campaign, called “Hands Off!”, and is purportedly against President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk.

St. Cloud’s protest will start at 12 p.m. on April 5 near the St. Cloud Great River Regional Library at 1300 W. St. Germain St., according to an online posting. It’s expected to end around 2 p.m.

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A protest on Trump and Musk’s cuts to the federal government already took place in St. Cloud this year. The March 8 protest gathered a crowd outside St. Cloud’s Harbor Freight Store on Division Street.

Trump has a 38% approval rating in Minnesota. The sitting president lost the North Star State with 47% of the vote, while his opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, garnered nearly 51%.

Roughly 39% of voters approve of Elon Musk, according to an NPR/PBS/Marist poll. This comes as 50% of people are unfavorable and 11% are unsure or never heard of Elon Musk.

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What is DOGE doing?

The Department of Government Efficiency also has a 39% favorable percentage. Although only 44% of voters have an unfavorable opinion toward the agency, as 17% are unsure or never heard of it.

The agency is looking to cut government spending by looking at grant appropriations, real estate assets and the federal workforce. In late March, DOGE posted on X saying it saved $237 by canceling grants oversees aimed at gender equality, worker empowerment and women’s participation in the workforce initiatives. It also cancelled $3M for “transparency and accountability in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry”.

Great work today by @USDOL @SecretaryLCD @Sonderling47 cancelling $577M in “America Last” grants for $237M in savings, including:
– $10M for “gender equity in the Mexican workplace”
– $12.2M for “worker empowerment in South America”
– $6.25M for “improving respect for Worker’s…

— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) March 26, 2025

The agency previously reported on its website that it closed the Internal Revenue Service office in St. Cloud.

Other Minnesota cities hosting a protest this weekend include St. Paul, Plymouth, Willmar and Ely, according to the Hands Off! campaign’s postings.

Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.