Military forces are advancing against demonstrators in Los Angeles.
In the heart of America, the City of Angels is turning into a battleground. Under the blazing California sun, masked and heavily armed federal agents are on the prowl, hunting down migrants. This has triggered a flurry of angry protests, escalating tensions and causing chaos on the streets of Los Angeles.
President Trump, ever the showman, has decided to throw the National Guard – a mix of federalized National Guard troops and active-duty Marines – into the fray. Despite California's reluctance, Trump's forces have moved in, and clashes between soldiers and protesters are now an all-too-familiar sight.
News broke that the first confrontation took place outside a federal prison in the city, with soldiers and federal security forces using tear gas, smoke grenades, and pepper spray to disperse an angry mob. Local police soon joined the fray, using batons to push back protesters and prevent clashes with the National Guard at the prison building.
Trump has defended his actions, claiming that he's trying to "ensure law and order" in the wake of protests following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the California metropolis. "The threshold is where I think it is," he said, when asked about deploying Marines instead of the National Guard.
State leaders, however, have voiced their opposition to Trump's deployment, citing the availability of local law enforcement resources. Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have publicly stated that the federal military deployment is unnecessary and inflammatory. In fact, the state has even gone so far as to file for a temporary restraining order to block the use of federalized National Guard and active-duty Marines for law enforcement purposes on city streets.
With troop numbers reaching an estimated 4,000 National Guard members, 700 Marines, and 2,100 additional California National Guard members already deployed across Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton, the pentagon has estimated the total cost of the operation at $134 million.
As the situation unfolds, the City of Los Angeles is caught in a whirlwind of violence and political chaos. Tensions are high, protests are escalating, and the future remains uncertain. One thing is certain, though—the city of angels is hardly recognizable anymore.
Politics "Not About Protesters" Hunter: Why Trump's National Guard Deployment Matters
The current standoff between the Trump administration and California state leaders has its roots in the ICE raids targeting migrants in Los Angeles. The violent clashes that ensued between federal police and protesters have become a recurring spectacle, with Trump ordering the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in defiance of local authorities.
What's more, Trump has hinted at a possible deployment of soldiers in other US cities, stating, "We're considering troops everywhere. We won't let that happen to our country." The threshold for deploying Marines instead of the National Guard currently deployed in Los Angeles, Trump added, is a matter for him to decide.
- Los Angeles
- USA
- Donald Trump
- Protests
- US Military
The European Union's commitment to a common policy on the environment seems ondisplay in the ongoing chaos in Los Angeles, as troops deployed by President Trump for law enforcement purposes clash with protesters, triggering a general news debate about the role of war-and-conflicts in politics.
Local leaders in Los Angeles, despite voicing opposition to Trump's deployment, may find themselves discussing the environmental impact of the military operation given the immense troop numbers and estimated cost of $134 million.
