'A perfect day for all women to march!' Trump risks the ire of thousands marching AGAINST him by telling them to 'get out there now' and CELEBRATE his achievements in his first year in office
President Trump has weighed in on the Women's March with a tweet that is certain to rile the tens of thousands of fired-up protesters marching against him across the country.
As processions of pink, 'pussy' hats and illustrations asking for him to be impeached made their way through the nation's many cities, Trump ignored their complaints about him and said: 'Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March.
'Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months.
'Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!'
The mass protests commemorate a year since the historic Women's March on January 21, 2017, a day after Trump's inauguration.
This year, the marches also take on the momentum of the Me Too and Time's Up movements against sexual misconduct which were sparked with allegations against Hollywood heavyweights.
They also coincided with a government shutdown which went into place late on Friday night.
People participate in the Second Annual Women's March in Washington DC, on January 20, 2018. It coincides with the government shutdown
Washington DC: There were calls for impeachment at the Lincoln Memorial where some protesters descended
Philadelphia: Thousands were in the street in central Philadelphia on Saturday for the march, their pink signs visible for miles
On Saturday, the marches were well underway by the time the president chimed in. His remarks angered many and sent others into despair.
'You just don't get it, do you?' was the reply of one exasperated critic.
Many questioned whether the president himself actually wrote the tweet.
'One thing about this tweet is that it absolutely wasn't written by Trump (vocabulary and phrasing different) so someone else is using his account purely to troll,' said one critic.
On Saturday, Trump was stuck in Washington DC, grounded by the overnight government shutdown, and unable to fly to Mar-a-Lago to attend a celebratory anniversary party to which tickets were sold at $100,000 each.
Sources inside the White House said he was 'upset' he would likely miss the event which he was referring to as 'my party', according to The Daily Beast.
Some 250 cities across the world were planning to play host to some form of Women's March on Saturday.
Washington DC: Protesters at Lincoln Memorial on Saturday with signs denouncing the president as a 'narcissist'
Washington DC: Among the protest signs were unflattering illustrations depicting Trump as Putin's baby
Washington DC: The president ignored the thousands of signs such as these and encouraged his fans to 'get out' and 'celebrate' all the good he has done for the country
Washington DC: In Washington DC, a women holds up her protest sign which poked fun at the president's hair
Washington DC: One of the thousands of protest signs in Washington DC on Saturday afternoon
Washington DC: A female protester takes a seat at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with her sign
Washington DC: Liberal young women were confronted with anti-abortionists at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday
Washington DC: Protesters praised special prosecutor Robert Mueller and repeated calls of the Times Up movement
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Washington DC: Protesters at the Lincoln Memorial stood behind plastic fencing with signs condemning the president
New York City: Tens of thousands of protesters gathered near Central Park for the Manhattan march. The group's Facebook page suggested that as many as 80,000 planned to attend
One of the largest protests was in Los Angeles where a gaggle of female starlets gathered to deliver thought-out remarks on sexual misconduct and gender inequality.
Both Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman spoke with determination as they vowed to support the 'revolution' at foot.
They made reference to their young daughters and told how they had decided to stop 'pandering' to men who suppress how they express 'desire'.
In Park City, Utah, Jane Fonda led a snow-dusted march. A number of stars are in the winter resort for the annual Sundance Film Festival.
Among them was lawyer Gloria Allred who delighted in joining the Hollywood crowd. She is the subject of a new Netflix documentary.
In New York City, Whoopi Goldberg was joined by Padma Lakshmi and Yoko Ono who invoked her lake husband John Lennon's song on a sign which read: 'Imagine peace.'
New York City: Protesters in Manhattan held up graphic illustrations including one which showed Trump being groped by the Statue of Liberty
New York City: A group of protesters who called themselves Gays Against Guns took part in the march in Manhattan
Los Angeles: Some of the many signs in the crowds in Los Angeles were focused on the looming midterms
Boston: In Boston, Massachusetts, a small number of counter protesters turned out to support the president. One is pictured
Washington DC: A child holds up an illustration depicting Trump's face and hair next to the word 'hate'
New York City: A woman marches with a sign reading Mujer in New York City. She was also dressed up as a character from The Handmaid's Tale, the popular Elisabeth Moss show tells a story of female oppression
In Los Angeles, actress Scarlett Johansson wore a Time's Up t-shirt to give her speech. Yoko Ono, the former wife of late Beatle John Lennon, invoked his anthemic song Imagine in her sign
Pregnant Eva Longoria watched on with Constance Wu as Natalie Portman spoke at the Los Angeles event. Portman called for a world where women can express their 'desire' without feeling physically unsafe
Portman breastfeed her young daughter backstage while taking a break from speaking. Her young son and husband were there to support her too
Eva Longoria (left) and Scarlett Johansson (right) were happy to mingle among other protesters backstage
Stars including Jane Fonda spoke at a rally in Park City, Utah, - where hordes of stars have gathered for the Sundance Film Festival - and Padma Lakshmi gave remarks in New York City. Gloria Allred, the celebrity attorney, was also there to promote the forthcoming documentary about her work
Los Angeles: There were large crowds in Los Angeles where packs of stars gathered to speak in front of crowds
Smaller marches were seen in Chattanooga, Tennessee (left) and in St Louis, Missouri (right)
Austin, Texas: Women descended on the Texas State Capitol with protest signs for the Women's March
Austin, Texas: A group of women dressed up as characters from the series A Handmaid's Tale in a protest against female oppression
Cincinnati, Ohio: A different group wore the same costumes and had children dress in them as well in Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio: A large group of protesters walks behind a police car with signs in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Saturday
Austin, Texas: Trump supporter Jon Colgin was arrested in Austin after getting into a fight with another man over his Make America Great Again hat. It is not clear if the other man was arrested but Colgin was taken into custody then released
In Chicago, Viola Davis gave a rousing speech and in Rome, Asia Argento led a group of marchers through the city. Argento was the first woman to go on the record to accuse the disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of rape in October.
Countless women followed with claims against the 65-year-old.
Many of the protests were directed towards Trump's immigration policies and his plans for DACA which shut down the government on Friday night when Democrats refused to move forward with talks.
'People were pretty damn mad last year and they're pretty damn mad this year,' said Tamika Mallory, co-president of the Women's March board.
Like last year, thousands of marchers donned pink knit 'pussy hats', which were created last year after the president's infamous 'grab them by the p***y' hot mic remark was made public.
They became a symbol for the disdain thousands of women carried and still harbor against the president.
At Saturday's marches, celebrities acted as guest speakers, particularly in Park City, Utah, where many are attending the Sundance Film Festival.
Jane Fonda spoke at the event and was joined by the rapper Common and a host of other stars.
Newark, New Jersey: A smaller march took place on the sidewalks of Newark in New Jersey on Saturday
New York City: A crowd of pink hats and signs near Central Park on Saturday morning as the march got underway
New York City: Many of the signs and chants were geared towards the 2018 midterm elections when more female candidates are standing than ever before
New York City: Some of the protesters poked fun at Trump and his comments with their signs
New York City: A woman holds a sign reading 'I am 2018' as she marches with crowds in New York City on Saturday
New York City: In Manhattan, glamorous protesters held signs calling for an Oprah Winfrey presidency in 2020 after the television legend's recent speech at the Golden Globes
New York City: A woman in Manhattan holds a 'resisting b**** face' sign as she marches with fellow protesters
New York City: Two NYPD officers watch over crowds as they proceed down Sixth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday
Among those in Saturday's crowds elsewhere in the country were thousands who attended last year's marches.
Fourteen-year-old Tanaquil Eltson marched with her mother in Washington DC.
She said: 'We went to the first women's march, but we feel like our work isn't done and that there's so much more that we need to fix.
The number of participants is likely to fall well short of the estimated 5 million who marched on Jan. 21. 2017 and made that one of the largest mass protests in U.S. history.
Despite the more modest expectations this year, organizers hope to build on the raw energy felt by Trump opponents immediately after his surprise election victory and channel it into gains for progressive candidates in November's midterm elections, using the theme 'Power to the Polls.'
Specifically, organizers want to register a million new voters and get more strong advocates for women's rights into office.
Activists say Trump's policies rolling back birth control and equal pay protections have propelled many women into activism for the first time.
New York City: Women stood patiently behind barricades along Central Park West in the mid-morning
New York City: Crowds descended on Central Park West in New York City for the march on Saturday morning. Mercifully, it was a warmer in the city than it has been for weeks
New York City: Protesters arrive at Columbus Circle in midtown Manhattan to begin the march on Saturday
New York City: People take part in the Women's March in Manhattan in New York City, New York, on January 20, 2018
A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the marches.
Some critics said this year's march lacked a focus. Targeting an issue such as immigration would have greater impact, said Shikha Dalmia, a senior analyst at the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank.
'Beating the feminist drum just seems to me beside the point. Maybe they are trying to cast as wide a net as possible,' Dalmia said by telephone.
The marches will be followed by more events on Sunday, including in Las Vegas, which was chosen by organizers to honor the city where the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history took place last August.
Nevada is also a key battleground state in the 2018 midterm elections.
The voter registration campaign will target swing states held by Republicans, such as Nevada, and in districts considered a toss-up ahead of November's midterm elections.
Philadelphia: protesters held signs calling for the end of nuclear warfare and for Trump to be impeached
Philadelphia: Oscar Janicki, six, holds a sign reading 'I'm With Her' as is carried through the crowds on an adult's shoulders
Philadelphia: Women give out pink hats on January 20, 2018, the second women's march
Protesters bring their A-game with thought-provoking, clever and punny signs for the Women's Marches
On the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, people across the country took to the streets carrying clever and hilarious signs at the 2018 Women's Marches.
The banners broadcast the participants' motivation for showing up, in some 250 cities across the country.
Reproductive rights was a popular theme at the second annual installment of this event. One sign read: 'We need to talk about the elephant in the womb'.
Many of the banners on display at the 2018 Women's Marches were thought-provoking and serious, others funny and some downright brutal.
On the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration, people took to the streets to protest in the second annual Women's March. The signs people carried were thought-provoking, full of puns and sometimes downright brutal
A sign in Philadelphia read, 'This episode of Black Mirror sucks' - a reference to the popular TV show on Netflix
The flagship Women's March, held on January 21, 2017, reportedly brought more than 5 million people together, worldwide.
On Saturday, the 2018 Women's March again drew crowds all over the nation, from Los Angeles to New York City.
While the turnout was not expected to be quite as high this year, several cities had hundreds of thousands show up to protest against issues including misogyny, sexual harassment and assault, lack of equal treatment in the workplace, and the deportation of immigrant children.
Two women held up a sign with an ode to Mean Girls, the movie, which had a picture of Regina George on a pair of ovaries and a uterus, saying 'Why are you so obsessed with me?'
Another said, 'Keep your rosaries off my ovaries.'
'Grow a pair,' read a sign being carried in Los Angeles, with the words displayed on a banner positioned around a uterus and set of ovaries.
Human rights was another trending topic, showcased throughout the marches. A woman drafted her own version of the lyrics to Cardi B's Bodak Yellow, writing on her sign: 'Said Donald Trump, you can't f*** with us if you wanted to, these is Human Rights, these is Basic Rights, these is Women Moves.'
More broadly, humanity was also a central theme.
A woman drafted her own version of the lyrics to Cardi B's Bodak Yellow, writing on her sign: 'Said Donald Trump, you can't f*** with us if you wanted to, these is Human Rights, these is Basic Rights, these is Women Moves'
'Grow a pair,' read a sign being carried in Los Angeles, with the words displayed on a banner positioned around a uterus and set of ovaries
This dog also walked in the protest, with its owner promising the pooch would pee on any border wall
A sign carried by a boy in Cleveland read, 'Boys will be good humans,' with 'good humans' written in after the words 'boys' was crossed out.
Another popular sign simply said, 'No human is illegal.'
In another immigration-themed sign, this time hung around a dog's neck, its owner promised the pooch would pee on any border wall.
A little girl seated on a grown up's shoulders in Denver carried a sign that said, 'Build a wall and my generation will tear it down.'
Other signs didn't require words and just relied on images, like one from Washington, DC that showed a baby with Trump's face being held up by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Other signs in Los Angeles picked up on Trump's desire to bring more people from Norway to the United States, which he made clear when he reportedly called Haiti, El Salvadaor and African nations, 'S***hole countries.'
One sign said, 'Norway, Please help us!'
Another depicted Trump in Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's painting, The Scream, and added the caption, 'The American Scream.'
A young girl in Los Angeles carried a sign that said, 'F*** Trump,' with two rainbows
A young girl in Los Angeles carried a sign that said, 'F*** Trump,' with two rainbows
A woman proclaimed, 'I hate crowds but I hate Trump more'
In Los Angeles, one woman urged that time was of the essence, carrying a sign that read, 'I'm 98 and can't wait: Dump Trump'
Americans outraged over the fact that Congress let spending appropriations expire, causing the federal government to shut down, expressed their outrage at the demonstrations, as well.
A sign from DC blamed the President, specifically, reading, '#TrumpShutdown,' which was trending worldwide on Twitter in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The sign also said, 'No leadership skills,' in reference to Trump.
Another creative set of signs from Washington, DC worked double duty for those carrying them, spelling out, 'Impeach #45' on one side, and then flipping over to spell out,' narcissist' on the reverse.
Other groups of people across the US worked together in another way to send a collective message.
Women in both Austin, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio dressed up as characters from the series, A Handmaid's Tale, in a protest against female oppression.
Another group that called themselves 'Gays Against Guns' cloaked themselves in white and carried a sign that read their name, along with images of people who had lost their lives due to gun violence.
A trio of signs from supporters in Ottawa, Canada, urged people to 'fight like a girl,' and said, 'women's rights are human rights'
A sign carried by a boy in Cleveland said, 'Boys will be good humans,' with 'good humans' written in after the words 'boys' was crossed out, showing that people are tired of the old phrase, 'Boys will be boys'
The #MeToo movement, calling out men in high positions who have abused their power in the form of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, also had a presence at the nationwide marches.
One woman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, turned her body into a canvas, with a sign that read '#MeToo' taped on the back of her coat as she marched while carrying an American flag.
Another lady in St Louis, Missouri carried a sign showing three fists in three different skin tones raised in he air, reading 'I will not be silent,' with the hashtags, '#BLM' for the Black Lives Matter movement, and '#TimesUp' and '#MeToo.'
Voting was another major focus for 2018 Women's March signs, calling for women to run for something across the US.
One sign called for Elizabeth Warren and Oprah Winfrey to run as a ticket for president in 2020, and another warned Trump that elections were coming, that looked 'mighty pink.'
Another still more generally said, 'Vote 2018: A woman's place is in the house and senate.'
That message, however, was apparently lost on Trump, who tweeted the following on Saturday: 'Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!'
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