Women’s March 2018: Donald Trump hits out as tens of thousands of activists take to streets across US

Donald Trump hit out at the tens of thousands of activists rallying against him at this year’s Women’s March, telling them it was a "perfect day" for them to “get out there” and celebrate his achievements in office.

In a move certain to anger those taking to the streets in opposition to the US President, he tweeted on Saturday afternoon: “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 afternoon.

“Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!"

But people participating in rallies and marches in the US and across the world on Saturday denounced Mr Trump's views immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women's rights on the anniversary of his inauguration.

Thousands of turned out for the rally at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and a march from the National Mall to Lafayette Park.

In Los Angeles, Scarlett Johansson praised the #MeToo movement against sexual assault and harassment for bringing hope of equality.

She told an estimated 500,000 protesters how the Harvey Weinstein revelations led her to consider how she had been treated as a young actress.

Wearing a Time's Up top, she said: "As the rage settled in it gave way to other feelings - sadness and, unexpectedly, guilt and grieving.

"Suddenly I was 19 again and I started to remember all the men I'd known who took advantage of the fact I was a young woman who didn't yet have the tools to say no."

Marches also took place in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Austin, Texas, as well as many other cities in the US and across the world.

The march in Washington DC had the feel of a political rally when Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, both Democrats, urged women to run for office and vote to oppose Trump and the Republicans' agenda.

"We march, we run, we vote, we win," Pelosi said, to applause.

Cathy Muldoon took her two teenage daughters to the New York rally.

She said this year's action is set against the backdrop of the Trump presidency, which "turned out to be as scary as we thought it would be."

"I've not seen any checks and balances," she said. "Everything is moving toward the right, and we have a president who seems to have no decency."

Karen Tordivo, who marched in Cleveland with her husband and 6-year-old daughter, said: "I think right now with the #MeToo movement, it's even more important to stand for our rights.”

In Palm Beach, Florida, home to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, several hundred people gathered carrying anti-Trump signs as they prepared to march as part of Saturday's planned protests.

People hit the streets across the globe on the anniversary of Mr Trump's inauguration, marching against his policies and in support of the #MeToo movement.

Earlier on Saturday, dozens of activists gathered in Rome to denounce violence against women.

They were joined by Italian actress and director Asia Argento, who made headlines after alleging last year that she had been sexually assaulted by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in the 1990s.

Argento addressed the criticism she received once she spoke up about her abuse.

"Women are scared to speak, and because I was vilified by everything I said, I was called a prostitute for being raped," she said at the rally.

Weinstein has apologised for causing "a lot of pain" with "the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past," but he has denied "any allegations of non-consensual sex."