In a unprecedented step, President Donald Trump has sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles. This would be the first time in more than a half-century that the United States has taken such a significant action. This ruling has understandably caused a firestorm, not least because it came over the loud and clear objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump kept on emphasizing that the deployment was necessary to restore order, otherwise there would be pandemonium on the streets. This move comes on the heels of proposing to use federal troops against Americans during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests—which he, at that moment, chose not to deploy.
The deployment aims to maintain order amidst rising tensions, with Trump asserting that without his intervention, Los Angeles would have faced dire consequences. Without his efforts, he said the city would have been “obliterated” and “burned to the ground.” As we’ve reported, local officials and civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the validity of this assertion. They view the deployment as an overreaction, or use of force.
The move has received harsh criticism by California Governor Gavin Newsom. It has generated opposition from National Guard members and a wide coalition of advocacy groups. Most view this military presence as an attack on civil liberties and an attempt to silence free speech. Sarah Streyder, then executive director of local smart growth advocacy, testified to thunderous applause. She added that, “The sentiment across the board right now is that using military force against our own communities isn’t the national security we signed up for.”
Regardless of these objections, Trump insists that he spoke to Governor Newsom about the deployment. According to Trump, a telephone conversation took place where he discussed the necessity of federal intervention. Newsom has publicly denied this claim. This array of shifting and sometimes contradictory narratives has served to further inflame public outcry over the politically sensitive deployment.
Furthermore, Trump’s administration quickly appealed a federal judge’s ruling that sought to block the troop deployment in Los Angeles. The urgency and determination with which the Trump administration is attempting this swift legal maneuver is palpable. They are looking to push forward while their authority is challenged legally and politically.
This deployment comes amidst the backdrop of Trump’s failed proposal to send federal troops. He floated this move in summer 2020 amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. The lesson he learned was not to mobilize military force during that period. Since then, he’s said he’s come to regret that decision, wishing he had done more to quell the civil disorder. Critics contend that this deployment is another step down a militarizing path that is warping the character of domestic governance.
Looking past all of the Russia-fueled chaos, consider Trump’s visionary plan for the first-ever military parade in Washington D.C. This opulent event is estimated to cost as much as $45 million. This parade, inspired by a Bastille Day celebration he witnessed in France in 2017, will culminate with a procession of 6,600 soldiers and dozens of tanks. Most excitingly, though, it will include a live broadcast message from one of the astronauts currently based in space.
Deploying troops domestically while staging a massive military display abroad should give us all pause. It illustrates how the administration goes about setting priorities and making decisions. Critics contend that preoccupation with military parades and a government-initiated crackdown on forms of dissent foreshadow a disturbing lurch toward authoritarianism.
Additionally, Trump’s administration has continued its aggressive stance on immigration through a mass deportation agenda targeting undocumented communities throughout the U.S. Democrats and immigrant rights groups have splashed their ire against this dastardly policy. They view it as just one piece of a larger plan to intimidate and terrorize other easily scared groups of people.
As the city burns in Los Angeles and around the country, the full meaning of what Trump has done is yet to be discovered. The deployment of National Guard troops has sparked discussions about the balance between maintaining public order and protecting civil liberties. Ongoing legal battles and political fallout are keeping this a very fluid situation. Stay tuned for it to play out more over the next several weeks.