Russia Reacts to Hands Off! Protests: ‘Deep State Applying Its Playbook’
Kirill Dmitriev, a businessman and investment envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has suggested that the mass demonstrations held in the U.S. over the weekend protesting President Donald Trump‘s leadership may have been orchestrated by the so-called “deep state.”
Newsweek has contacted the Hands Off! movement and Russia’s Foreign Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
There is no evidence to support the claim that the Hands Off! demonstrations—organized at more than 1,200 locations nationwide—were orchestrated by the deep state, a term which has been described as a “supposed network of entrenched bureaucrats who work to undermine presidential prerogatives (and thereby the will of the American people).”
Trump has vowed to “demolish the deep state.”
Demonstrators participate in a Hands Off! protest at the statehouse on April 5, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
What To Know
Dmitriev, who visited Washington last week for talks with Trump administration officials, reacted to the widespread protests in a post on X (formerly Twitter), on Sunday. He suggested that the protests are part of a larger, orchestrated movement as opposed to being organized by frustrated Americans.
“When the ‘Hands Off’ protests are this well-organized, it begs the question: is the deep state applying its playbook from color revolutions abroad to attempt one at home?” the envoy wrote.
He was referring to mass anti-corruption protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that erupted in mid-March.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters outraged by Trump’s leadership since his return to office for a second term on January 20 took to the streets in all 50 states. The rallies were organized by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists, The Associated Press reported.
The Trump administration has faced widespread criticism for its cuts to the federal government. Trump appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to head his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been drastically slashing the federal workforce.
DOGE claims to have slashed $140 billion in wasteful spending since January 20, through a combination of asset sales, contract/lease cancellations and renegotiations, fraud and improper payment deletion, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings, and workforce reductions.
Musk meanwhile claimed in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity last month that “larger forces” were behind the recent spate of vandalism and arson attacks against Tesla vehicles, which appear to be linked to his work at DOGE.
“I mean, who’s funding and who’s coordinating it? Because this is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Musk said.
What People Are Saying
The White House said in a statement about the protests: “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.”
Kirill Dmitriev, investment envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on X: “When the ‘Hands Off’ protests are this well-organized, it begs the question: is the deep state applying its playbook from color revolutions abroad to attempt one at home?”
The Hands Off! Movement said on its website: “This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.”
What Happens Next
It’s unclear if the Hands Off! Movement will be organizing more protests. “If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save,” its website states.
