In a controversial move during the opening weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump has deployed troops into Los Angeles, pushing the boundaries of presidential power.
This deployment follows clashes arising from immigration raids, representing the first time since 1965 that a president has undertaken such an action without a request from a state governor.
In addition to the National Guard, which was dispatched to the city, the Trump administration announced the sending of 700 active-duty Marines to further establish a military presence in America’s second-largest metropolis.
This military action has raised concerns about President Trump’s intentions, particularly as he has warned that troops could be sent to “everywhere,” leading to fears of a widespread military crackdown on protests and dissent.
Law professor William Banks from Syracuse University voiced his concerns, stating, “It’s a slippery slope.
If the president tries to do more, he’s cutting against the grain in the United States of a long history of leaving law enforcement to civilians.”
The situation in Los Angeles has become a pivotal moment for President Trump, as he positions himself against California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, particularly on his defining issue: immigration.
Governor Newsom has accused the president of using the crisis for political gain, describing Trump’s approach as “dictatorial.”
Amidst this backdrop, President Trump has even suggested that Governor Newsom, viewed as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential elections, could face arrest.
Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, condemned the deployment, labeling it as indicative of an “authoritarian government.”
Human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have also expressed opposition to the military actions, with Ms. Hina Shamsi describing it as “unnecessary, inflammatory, and an abuse of power.”
While President Trump asserted on June 9 that he does not desire a “civil war,” the deployment affords him an opportunity to project a tough image to his base.
The president has long nurtured a strongman persona and has previously praised authoritarian leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.
This coming weekend, President Trump is set to celebrate his 79th birthday by attending a military parade in Washington, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Additionally, the order to send the National Guard into Los Angeles was issued just before he attended a UFC fight in New Jersey, an event often used to appeal to his more macho supporters.
Critics argue that the actions taken in Los Angeles transcend mere theatrics.
Since resuming his presidency, President Trump has aggressively challenged the boundaries of his authority, directing actions against various institutions he perceives as harboring liberal ideologies.
In a telling remark, President Trump attributed the unrest in Los Angeles to “insurrectionists,” a statement that seemed to hint at the potential invocation of the Insurrection Act.
This act would allow the military to serve as a domestic police force, further inflaming fears about a potential military presence in civilian affairs.
Political science professor Todd Belt from George Washington University remarked, “Trump is pretty free and loose when it comes to the use of force.
He knows it is popular with his base, and he always likes to look strong in their eyes.”
For years, President Trump has discussed employing military forces in response to protests, although he refrained from doing so during his first term.
However, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper noted that President Trump had questioned why Black Lives Matter demonstrators could not be shot in the legs during protests.
In contrast, President Trump did not call for military intervention when his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results.
When questioned by reporters regarding the invocation of the Insurrection Act on June 9, President Trump refrained from providing a clear answer.
His advisors are increasingly framing the situation in apocalyptic terms, with top migration advisor Stephen Miller characterizing the Los Angeles protests as a battle for Western civilization against an “invasion” of migrants.
“The ‘war’ and ‘invasion’ framing have helped the administration make the case for the domestic use of these laws that are normally used to put down rebellions or invasions,” commented Professor Belt.
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