Avengers star Mark Ruffalo lends support to Hands Off protests against President Trump and Elon Musk; warns 'This is only the beginning'

Hollywood actor and activist Mark Ruffalo has voiced strong support for the Hands Off! protests that swept across the United States on Saturday, marking one of the largest opposition movements against President Donald Trump’s administration since his return to office.The protests, which repotedly took place in over 1,200 locations across the US, were organised by more than 150 civil rights groups, labour unions, veterans' associations, LGBTQ+ advocates, and election activists. Thousands took to the streets to also criticise billionaire Elon Musk, who has been closely aligned with Trump's economic and regulatory agenda.Sharing a video of the demonstrations, Ruffalo wrote, “A beautiful day. Millions of Americans have taken to the streets across America for democracy (with 100k in attendance in NYC) to stand up against Trump’s and Elon Musk’s reckless agenda. Take heart, you are not alone. Together we are mighty. This is only the beginning. #HandsOff”The White House responded in a statement, defending President Trump’s record: “President Trump's position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats' stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors."Despite the administration's pushback, activists say the movement is far from over. Saturday’s rallies marked the largest in a series of protests that have gained momentum since Trump’s return to power—signalling what many, including Ruffalo, believe is only the beginning of a broader resistance.Mark Ruffalo recently made headlines for criticising the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for its delayed and vague response to the detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal by Israeli police in the West Bank.Initially, the Academy issued a general statement condemning harm to artists but failed to name Ballal or his film No Other Land, sparking backlash from over 600 industry figures, including Ava DuVernay, Olivia Colman, and Javier Bardem. Following mounting criticism, AMPAS released a follow-up letter apologising for the omission and explicitly naming Ballal, reaffirming their stance against violence and the suppression of artistic expression.