Trump Sends National Guard to​ Los ‍Angeles Amid ‍Immigration ​Protests

Updated June 10,2025
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President Donald Trump’s decision ‍to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles in response‍ to recent protests against immigration raids has ignited ​a ⁣firestorm of ⁤controversy. Critics argue that the ​move is a blatant overreach of ⁣federal power ‌and a politically⁤ motivated act aimed at galvanizing his base.

The deployment follows scattered ⁣protests⁢ in Los Angeles. Trump’s actions have been ⁣compared to those of past presidents during times ⁣of civil unrest. Princeton historian Julian Zelizer notes Trump’s tendency to “provoke ⁣conflict and to fuel division rather than to move in the opposite⁢ way,” contrasting it with the conventional presidential role ‌of calming tensions.

George Edwards, ⁣a‍ presidential scholar at Texas A&M University, ⁣suggests that Trump’s focus is⁣ less on maintaining peace and⁢ more on ‍targeting california and⁤ Gov. Gavin ‍Newsom,⁣ using immigration as a central issue.

Trump⁤ has warned demonstrators against violence, stating, “They spit, we ​hit!” This stance has drawn criticism, given‌ his‍ past actions, including the pardoning of individuals convicted in the Jan. 6 attack on the⁣ U.S.⁤ Capitol.

‌ “He does ⁢not ‌see that calming role as being very integral⁣ to what he does,” said Julian Zelizer,a Princeton ⁢historian. “He⁢ is definitely willing to provoke conflict and to fuel division​ rather than to move⁣ in the opposite way. ⁤… Rather of calming a situation, it’s the opposite.It’s ramping up a situation.”
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What’s next

The ​situation​ remains tense,and‍ the long-term‌ consequences of trump’s actions are uncertain. Observers fear the increased military presence⁣ coudl escalate tensions and lead to‌ further unrest in Los Angeles.