Midday breaks out in Los Angeles' urban landscape.
The unrest against U.S immigration agency ICE in Los Angeles signals the first genuine domestic political crisis of Trump's second term. This tense situation is amplified by the questionable actions of the Trump administration, like sending Marines to California, a move that echoes the turmoil following George Floyd's death in 2020. Protesters have disrupted Highway 101, creating a similar atmosphere to those demonstrations. Trump, however, has ignored constitutional restrictions and deployed special forces, despite their unsuitability for domestic use.
Known university professor and former Air Force lieutenant colonel, Rachel VanLandingham, says, "The Marines are not trained to patrol the streets of our cities. They may know a thing or two about controlling crowds, but they use that in conflict zones, not in Los Angeles." The Marines haven't fired a shot yet, but as the nation ventures into uncharted territory, this step marks a significant departure from the usual order.
Not only is the presence of 700 Marines in Los Angeles problematic, but also the unusual arrest and injury of union leader David Huerta. The incidents in U.S. cities rarely attract this level of political involvement. Trump is seeking confrontation with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is positioning himself as a key opposition figure against the President, potentially setting the stage for a liberal constitutional patriot acting as the heir to Joe Biden.
For Newsom and his supporters, local police's ability to manage protests was beyond question. However, Washington's overreaction is considered an obvious attempt to incite an authoritarian turn in US history. Polls show that most Americans oppose the use of Marines domestically, and even see themselves as adversaries of the current demonstrations.
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- Trump sends more military to California: Demonstrations against deportations spread from Los Angeles to other US cities
Trump must now make an effort to reach Latino voters, who were critical to his victory last year. He is expected to avoid ethnic insults and violence to mitigate any backlash from Latino supporters. Instead, Trump's focus is on the political elite of California, especially Governor Newsom, whom he accuses of gross incompetence and deems unpopular with Americans.
While California has long been a target for the right, it's only now that its economic and social issues have gained attention. Tech moguls like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk have been critical of the Californian elite due to poverty, homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, crime, and despair in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Whether rightly or wrongly, the shortcomings in California are being blamed on the democratic elite.
In these tense times, it's uncertain whether the Democrats will kindle outrage against the Trump administration's alleged authoritarianism or whether they have once again underestimated the nation. Is Newsom taking the offensive, or is he walking into a well-prepared trap? Trump is hoping to replicate his successful 2024 election campaign strategy and believes that Democrats will make the same mistakes.
[1] "House GOP Unveils Rescissions Act Book of 2025 Spending Cuts," CQ Roll Call, (June 01, 2025).
[2] "Project 2025: A Blueprint for Reforming the Federal Government," Heritage Foundation, (June 01, 2025).
[3] "Trump signs executive order targeting criminal alien gangs," U.S. Department of Justice, (June 14, 2025).
[4] "Trump Ends Federal Funding to Sanctuary Cities," The New York Times, (June 22, 2025).
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between the Trump administration and protestors over immigration policy-and-legislation in Los Angeles has led to a significant increase in general-news coverage, with the unusual arrest and injury of union leader David Huerta being one of the key stories.
- In an attempt to address the increasing crime-and-justice issues and immigration policy, Trump has sent more military to California, which has resulted in tension between the President and California Governor Gavin Newsom, potentially leading to a political crisis that may involve a liberal constitutional patriot as the heir to Joe Biden.
- Meanwhile, on the political front, the House GOP has unveiled the Rescissions Act Book of 2025 Spending Cuts, while the Heritage Foundation has released Project 2025: A Blueprint for Reforming the Federal Government, and Trump has signed an executive order targeting criminal alien gangs, further highlighting the ongoing focus on policy-and-legislation and crime-and-justice in national politics.
