As the Financial Times notes in an email this morning:
In Los Angeles, clashes continue between anti-deportation protesters and law enforcement after Donald Trump deployed troops into the city over the weekend.
As background, they note:
Demonstrations against raids on suspected illegal immigrants attracted the ire of the US president, who on Saturday deployed the National Guard in the Californian city, using a rarely invoked law designed to repress invasions and rebellions.
As they add:
This is the first time in decades that guardsmen have been deployed against citizens on domestic soil against the express wishes of local law enforcement.
They also note that:
Trump has not ruled out sending in US marines, a threat first made by his defence secretary.
Let's break this down.
The issue is that people in California object to Trump's approach to enforcing the law on supposedly illegal migrants, on whom the economy of the USA depends, especially in states like California. Sentiment is high, for economic, social and political reasons.
This is fuelled by Trump's resentment of the massive economic power of California, which would have the fifth biggest economy in the world if ranked as an independent country. The state and its populace also have little love for Trump.
So, despite the supposed Republican love of devolving power to states, there is a standoff, and Trump wants to use the Federal force he supposedly loathes to impose his will in a place that wants to handle matters in its own way.
The result is a second conflict that has grown out of the first, between protestors and the Federal forces, with the Governor finding it hard to stay out of the fray.
The question is, where does this go?
We know that on migrating policy, both social and economic crises are developing. Trump's plan to expel 11 million people cannot achieve any other outcome. The situation will get uglier.
As worrying is the use of Federal force. There is no crisis in California. There are some small disturbances. The state is more than able to manage the situation. That is the reality of what is happening, I have no doubt. It's also June, which is always a good month for riots: this will pass.
But Trump does not want that to happen. He wants to create a crisis. He wants to claim that the rule of law is under threat (even though he is the biggest threat to it), and he wants to impose his form of law enforcement regardless of constitutional and conventional conduct.
Most of all, he wants to make clear he can use force within the USA to suppress dissent. That's because he wants to have a reason to suspend elections in 2026, and the more he can claim he faces internal crisis and conflict, the more he will claim that his actions are justified.
For that reason, it would be best if those protesting did not riot. Let me be unambiguous about that. They are playing into Trump's hands. Who knows, he might be setting them up to do so.
But the point is that this is the USA on the cusp of martial law. That's the worry.
And then presume that the far-right in other countries will think they have the power to do the same thing. Protest against unreasonable laws is already hard enough in the UK. How long will it be before enhanced 'defence' forces are used to quell protests here, as well as elsewhere in Europe?
The problem occurring in California is not, I suggest, some little local skirmish. It is, I think, part of a far-right plan to end democracy. They said that was what they intended to do. I think we should take them at their word. That is the plan. And they will deliver it however they can, and with force if need be.
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If some of the self appointed militia people try to get involved, it could get very nasty.
A well regulated Militia, is necessary to the security of a free State. Or so they say.
But as you say if they did get involved out would not help at the moment
I don’t know if I am being to hopeful but I wonder if we might see agencies like ICE and the National Guard either refusing Trumps orders or resignation of many of their employees
I am afraid that, in my view, many people join organisations like ICE and the National Guard because they believe in what they do. I dou8bt mant will have any doubts that they are in the right in this.
Agree. It is exactly that agenda.
Neoliberalism’s roots are within eugenics. Their credo:
Blessed are the rich for they shall inherit the earth and have dominion.
If you ask the billionaires’ AI what god looks like it will describe someone like Trump.
Governor Gavin Newsom has spoken about this deployment of the National Guard calling it unconstitutional, illegal and immoral which puts lives at risk unnecessarily.
He didn’t hold back his thoughts about Trump and the mess he and his administration are making both domestically and around the world – referring to tariffs, the economic downturn and making enemies of allies. He thinks they’re dangerous idiots.
He called Trump “unhinged” and “a stone cold liar”. Apparently they had a phone call where Trump didn’t tell the Governor about his intention to send in the National Guard or the possibility of also deploying the Marines.
He will be seeking an injunction today against Trump’s actions.
You don’t have to be a Machiavellian to know Trump’s script, neither should we ignore that the mechanisms are in place in Europe and the UK. We are currently bedevilled by Trumpist agents in government and in society, with far-right money pouring in to them and to online influencers of youth. Our main news media have been captured by the right and far right. Many ducks are already in a row, and unfortunately the destruction of Labour has opened the door for Farage & Co. My dark vision for the USA is that this can only end as total federal control of the states (i.e. a kingdom) bar those areas in civil armed uprising.
Although only a partial analogy, the burning of the Reichstag comes to mind.
Trump has created the “crisis”, then escalated it by making it an “emergency”, blame the foreigners. I need more control powers.
Result martial law, no 2026 elections and of course will not be safe to hold the 2028 election because it will be stolen from me.
Hopefully the mass protests planned for the 14th June are not provoked by aggressive policing.
Regrettably it is not looking good for the USA.
The latest news I heard from LA is a reporter working for Australian tv was shot live on air while broadcasting. I fear she may be the first of many injured or killed in this manufactured confrontation .
I have not found confirmation of this.
The clip is on Twitter
Fortunately it doesn’t look like a serious injury
She was shot in the ankle whilst reporting on air. There’s footage of her being hit. Her ankle was sore but it wasn’t a serious injury.
Report in the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/09/australian-reporter-shot-with-rubber-bullet-while-covering-anti-ice-protests-in-los-angeles
It was a rubber bullet and she was hit in the leg. But deliberately targeted according to the report.
Appears to be covered here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cvg7vxx888kt?post=asset%3A9b445334-3178-429a-93a9-27d3023a80d4#post
It was a rubber bullet apparently.
@ Richard,
Here:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jun/09/australian-reporter-shot-with-rubber-bullet-while-covering-anti-ice-protests-in-los-angeles
There are also reports of this happening to other journalists – I thought that the reference was to being shot with metal rather than rubber bullets
“British photographer injured by ‘plastic bullet’ in LA protests”, BBC News, 9 June 2025
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg7vzrj6g3o
The officer deliberately turned and aimed at her – there’s footage of that too.
At once heart warming but also troubling.
Communities over here used to stop people being evicted from their homes – it could happen again, but our Establishment now turns to nasty fascism to divide us and seek pleasure from the misfortunes of others.
They’re doing a good job too I’m afraid.
I just wonder what would happen if Trump did try to use the military against civilian protestors. Normally the military do not relish such a role. They are not trained for it and soldiers do not like firing on unarmed civilians. Would they even obey an order to shoot? Trump is behaving recklessly. Hopefully it will all backfire on him.
All very good questions.
I fear we will find out.
There had been predictions that Trump would deploy armed suppression sooner than this. My question is why the delay -by about 2 months … ? I suspect that it’s about trying things out and trying to make sure other ducks are in a row.
Gilead here they come!
The pundits have been suggesting for a while now that the play will be to find, stoke or confect an excuse for martial law at which point it is ‘good night democracy’ (such as they have it in the USA).
As always, Substack has some extremely insightful posts, these are definitely worth a read:
https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/june-9-2025?r=1pffiv&utm_medium=ios
And
https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelmoore/p/american-idiots?r=1pffiv&utm_medium=ios
Right now, it’s crucial progressive opposition stays non-violent. I doubt the MAGA billionaires will ultimately give up power without some kind of fight, but Trump’s approval ratings are only -5% at the moment: 45% of those polled still approve of him!
Allow MAGA to make itself much more unpopular: time is not on their side! That’s why some MAGA strategists are trying to provoke a fight this summer… it’d justify brutal repression, mean the defeat of the progressives and solidify the US as a fascist state for at least as long as Franco’s Spain.
Progressives everywhere, but especially in the US right now: Do NOT fall into the trap!
“Right now, it’s crucial progressive opposition stays non-violent. ”
I completely agree.