U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Los Angeles is being “invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy,” referring to protests sparked by immigration raids his administration has ordered. The statement came during a rally at Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.
The Republican president blamed the protesters for violating national sovereignty, accusing them of carrying foreign flags, especially those of Latin American countries, and of burning American flags during the riots."What you are witnessing in California is a full-blown attack on peace, public order, and national sovereignty, perpetrated by rioters waving foreign flags with the goal of continuing a foreign invasion of our country," he declared.
"We will not allow federal agents to be attacked, nor will we allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That's what they are," the president added.
In his speech, Trump lashed out at California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of inaction in the face of the unrest. He also criticized President Joe Biden's administration for a massive influx of immigrants into the country. Trump also expressed his intention to promote legislation that would punish those who burn the American flag with a year in prison, stating that those who do so"don't love this country."
In response to the protests, which have been intense in Los Angeles County, Trump has ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, significantly increasing the military presence in the region. Trump defended this action by stating that it is necessary to protect federal property and personnel.
The California government's response was immediate. Authorities denounced the military deployment as an unjustified provocation and an overreach of federal power. The state filed a lawsuit against Trump for violating the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, arguing that the action disregards state autonomy to control public order. The military intervention, they argue, seeks to deliberately escalate a situation that had already been contained by local authorities.
Trump's rally at Fort Bragg also came as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations for the U.S. Army, an event that featured live military demonstrations and is part of a series of patriotic activities with which the president seeks to reinforce his image as a leader of"law and order." With the large military parade planned in Washington on Saturday, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Trump warned that the demonstrations would be"met with very great force," despite the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department reporting no credible threats.
The protests in Los Angeles began on Friday, when activists and immigrant rights advocates publicly denounced the raids carried out by federal agencies. Tensions grew with clashes between protesters and police, and continue to fuel a climate of confrontation between the federal government and state authorities.
