Controversial soldier use: “You spit, we beat”: Trump demonstrates his power

US President Donald Trump speaks of “violent, insurgent meters” who have taken over Los Angeles – reality looks different. Until the early Sunday evening (local time) there were only individual protests in the city center of the extensive metropolis of millions – in the order that would normally hardly make any larger waves. On the edge of these peaceful protests, violent riots also occurred. However, the situation only really fueled after Trump ordered the use of the national guard and even mobilization of the regular military.

About 300 soldiers of the National Guard – some in combat gear and with automatic weapons – comment on the federal government building from protests and vandalism. In addition, around 500 marine fans of the regular armed forces would be ready to intervene if necessary, the responsible regional command of the military said.

A use of the regular army inside would be another serious escalation. Soldiers are trained for military missions and the war, not for police tasks such as control of protests in American city centers. Nevertheless, Trump calls for his online language tube Truth in the late morning: “Get the troops !!!”

California’s governor Gavin Newsom speaks of a conscious staging of the President, who with his martial “spectacle” is overriding on applicable law. The Democrat announced a lawsuit by the state against the “illegal, immoral and unconstitutional approach” of the Republican and his government.

Mayor Karen Bass, who had also rejected the national guard’s commitment, spoke of several thousand demonstrators, some of whom had also blocked a highway at times. In the protests, bottles and stones were also thrown on security forces when officials pushed the demonstrators back from the vicinity of the federal and highway buildings.

Tear gas and burning cars

The local police went to the crowd with batons and also tear gas. According to the mayor, there were some cases of vandalism; In addition, several taxis went up in flames. Police vehicles were also damaged. In the late Sunday evening, the security authorities finally imposed a ban on meeting for the city center.

There were 56 arrests over the weekend – and that was “nothing compared to what will come,” said police chief Jim McDonnell. He emphasized that the overwhelming majority of the demonstrators had peacefully exercised their right to freedom of expression. In the meantime, however, “things have come out of control,” said McDonnell. In order to assess whether reinforcement from the outside is necessary, he must first know how exactly the national guard should help the police. Bass had warned that the intimidating use of the guard could lead to further escalation.

Reinforced operations by the US immigration authority ICE, who wants to arrest and deport migrants without valid papers according to Trump’s guidelines, had triggered the first protests in the Los Angeles area at the end of last week. Therefore, Trump had at least 2,000 soldiers from the National Guard mobilized on Saturday evening (local time) and also did not rule out the use of the regular military.

California accuses Trump illegal action

Governor Newsom, who is traded as a possible candidate for the US presidential election 2028, vehemently protested. The mobilization of the national guard without his consent is a “serious violation of the sovereignty of the state,” says a protest letter to US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, which newsoma published on platform X. Newsom got an idea of ​​the situation in Los Angeles and pointed out that there was enough local security forces.

Trump had threatened the demonstrator with blows if they spit on or throw security forces. “They spit, this is their new thing,” said the Republican in front of reporters on the way to Camp David. If that happens, he has a clear message: “You spit, we beat.”

Trump also speaks of troops in other cities

Trump does not want to rule out use of soldiers in other cities in the United States. It is being checked to “have troops anywhere,” said Trump. “We don’t let the country tear apart.” When asked, he also did not want to rule out a kind of war law to master the protests. At the moment, however, there is no need to apply the law known as the “insurrection act”, said Trump.

Trump’s decree on mobilizing the national guard speaks of “a form of rebellion” against state power – but does not explicitly call Los Angeles. So it could be used anywhere in the USA.

Harris: Trump wants “chaos donate”

The democrat Kamala Harris, who was inferior to Trump in the presidential election in November, criticized his approach sharply. To use soldiers of the National Guard against mostly peacefully protesting demonstrators – that is “a dangerous escalation that chaos is supposed to donate,” wrote Harris on the platform X. “It is part of the cruel, calculating agenda of Trump’s government to spread panic and division.”

The new government is not concerned with public security, but about anxiety – “fear of a group that demands dignity and the rule of law,” said Harris with a view to migrants, who have to fear deportation in view of Trump’s hard course in migration policy.

Protest of the democratic governors

Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard described the union of all democratic governors of the US states as “alarming abuse of power”. A commitment of the security forces against the will of the affected state is “ineffective and dangerous”. The threat of also using marine fans in American cities is contrary to the actual mission of the military and undermine the public’s trust.

Historical demonstration of power

The use of the national guard against the governor’s resistance is a highly unusual government demonstration of power. Since 1965, no US President had taken over the national guard of a state against its declared will.

Normally, the states have control over the national guard – a military reserve unit that is part of the US forces. Each state has its own guard, which can be used in forest fires, hurricanes, floods or unrest inside. It is then under the command of the respective governor. If there is a war or national emergencies, the US President can take command.