Turning Tides: Trump's Week from Rough to Powerful, All Thanks to the LA Protests
Exceptional Day for Trump: Unmatched Success
Things were looking bleak for US President Donald Trump: a feud with tech mogul Elon Musk and a heated battle over the budget bill. But when protests erupted in Los Angeles over immigration policies, Trump seemed to find new vigor, perhaps even more powerful than before.
Tesla's billionaire, Elon Musk, had taken aim at Trump's budget bill, and the clash made headlines. Musk insinuated that without his monetary support, Trump wouldn't have won the election. The controversy would've kept the media buzzing, but then came LA.
Last Friday, immigration raids by ICE in LA neighborhoods set the residents on edge. Protests demanded the release of those detained, with clashes between demonstrators and police resulting in images of police firing rubber bullets and stun grenades dominating news reports. Trump reacted swiftly, mobilizing the National Guard to assert his determination on a crucial election issue - deportations.
Despite challenges on other fronts like inflation, tariffs, and Ukraine, support for Trump's hardline immigration policies remains high, clocking in at over 50% according to polls. A rare figure given the otherwise poor approval ratings.
A political insider told Politico, "We couldn't have written a better script." The Democratic Party is once again viewing the unpopular side of an issue, a tactic that propelled Trump to victory.
Fight Fire with Fire
The scenes from LA seem tailored by an overenthusiastic Trump advisor, using AI: masked protesters damaging cars, burning American flags, waving Mexican flags, all unfolding on empty highways. While these images are reality, they paint only a small picture of the truth.
For Trump and supporters, this violent display in a city of immigrants and a significant Democratic stronghold is more than enough. California, governed by ambitious Democratic contender Gavin Newsom, has become a battleground. Newsom called for an end to the chaos, stating, "Trump doesn't want peace, he wants war."
panorama: Calm Amidst Chaos - Migrants Aid Police During Los Angeles Riots
Newsom strives to be the calming presence in the whirlwind, assuring the situation is under control. However, his message often gets lost in the noise, with many perceiving the Democratic party as weak or complacent in the face of riots.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman criticized the party's stance in a tweet, "This is anarchy and real chaos." Newsom repeatedly condemns violent protesters while also denouncing Trump's actions. The "Wall Street Journal" notes, "Newsom's stance is unlikely to be popular with most Americans."
What's the Takeaway?
Trump appears elated, tweeting, "I made a great decision when I sent in the National Guard." Trump's actions in LA imply an unyielding desire for power, striving for swift, albeit superficial, impactful decisions rather than compromise.
Trump is testing the boundaries of his authority in the US, with political scientist Thomas Jäger stating, "Trump has been working on this for a long time." Many in the US are unsettled by this prospect, with Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders warning on CNN that Trump could be "leading the country into authoritarianism at great speed."
The immigration protests in LA may be just what Trump needed to regain his footing after a rough week. Using the military to quell protests could be a test run, sending a message to other governors and states: fail to contain riots, and you'll face a fate similar to Los Angeles.
- Donald Trump
- Los Angeles
- Protests
The Commission, despite politics being consumed by Trump's budget bill and Elon Musk's criticism, seems to have placed the protection of workers from ionising radiation risks on the back burner, as the unrest in Los Angeles over immigration policies has taken center stage in Trump's agenda.
As the General-news continues to report on the violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Los Angeles, it remains uncertain if this increase in protests will further escalate the political tensions or lead to a more hardline stance on immigration from the Trump administration.
