Trump Embraces Authoritarianism for ‘Les Misérables' Moment
Watching from the audience in the Kennedy Center, Donald Trump would no doubt identify with the protagonist in Les Misérables.
Jean Valjean is, after all, a felon who rebuilds his life. He owns a factory and becomes mayor. He finds redemption.
With Melania at his side, and the seats filled with donors who have paid up to $2 million each to join the president, Trump's world is more cosseted. Less Cosette.
Inside the reconstituted center no longer resembling anything Kennedy (RFK Jr. notwithstanding), all talk of revolution is confined to the stage and a bygone era in 19th-century France. And Valjean remains one step ahead of the law.
Trump is chairman of the Kennedy Center board he has personally picked. He is the king. The audience is there at his favor, as is his Cabinet and the Republican lawmakers who have bent to his will.
Outside, though, the people aren't singing. They are beginning to fight.
For generations, Los Angeles has been an enduring symbol of American optimism. The promised land of sun-kissed beaches and Hollywood dreams.
On the day Beach Boy Brian Wilson died, downtown L.A. was under curfew, and Marines and National Guard troops walked the streets. Six days of rioting on the West Coast put the entire country on edge.
The city with fire seared into its consciousness was once again in flames.
It represented the perfect opportunity for the president who would be king.
Trump is always the main character of his own story, and he has found the perfect way to move the plot along from last week's Tesla car-wreck of a squabble with Elon Musk.
The Democratic Party was outfoxed and out-hought when it was forced to defend the deported Maryland dad, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, with a history that is questionable at least. Now, Trump was doubling down on the 'insurrectionists' protesting against the ICE raids that have turned 7-Elevens and Home Depots around the nation into no-go zones for minorities.
The Authoritarian Show was playing to Trump's core audience. Karoline Leavitt called the L.A. protests 'left-wing riots.' Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Trump buddy, called in the National Guard—just in case.
The president also presented a heavily politically oriented MAGA rally to troops at Fort Bragg on Tuesday.
A military parade to celebrate Trump's 79th birthday and the Army's 250th anniversary will rumble around Washington, D.C. on Saturday as a reminder of the president's power. He likes strong men. He considers himself one. Parades are what they do.
But not everyone is buying it.
California Governor Gavin Newsom sees Trump more as a Star Wars villain, making his autocratic move. Newsom believes this is the time for his close-up, but he is insistent that bringing in the military is over the top.
It's Trump's latest production, Law and Order: Special ICE Unit.
'Deploying military forces and conducting militarized ICE raids in immigrant neighborhoods is not about public safety,' said Arturo Flores, Mayor of Huntington Park. 'It is about political theater that is rooted in fear.'
On Tuesday, 86 protesters were arrested during an anti-ICE demonstration in Chicago. There have been disturbances in Dallas, New York, and Washington, D.C. Activists across the country are planning protests on Saturday as part of the 'No Kings' movement.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt walked out of her press briefing when she was pressed about the 1st Amendment. The spokeswoman for the White House didn't want to discuss free speech.
She was asked earlier if she thought Trump saw himself as a king.
'The president views himself as the president of the United States of America,' she said. 'This is a constitutional republic.'
Fine words, indeed.
It's a popular misconception that Victor Hugo based his epic 1862 novel, Les Misérables, on the French Revolution of 1789. He actually used the June Rebellion of 1832, when a group of revolutionaries tried to overthrow the French government.
More than 100,000 Parisians raised barricades and rioted in the hopes of overthrowing the newly established King Louis Philippe. They were ultimately crushed by 20,000 National Guard troops and 40,000 regular army soldiers drafted into the capital.
The show of power was successful, at least for a while. In 1848, the monarchy fell after Louis Philippe sought to hand the throne down to his 9-year-old grandson. It was the beginning of the Second French Republic.
'King' Donald is taking a calculated risk in ignoring the First Amendment. But in suppressing democracy in such brazen fashion, he may be risking the future of America's 236-year republic.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israel strike live updates: Israel launches dozens of strikes in Iran, IDF says
Early Friday morning, local time, Israel launched dozens of strikes against Iran and declared a state of emergency, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Katz said in a statement. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv following the announcement. The U.S. did not provide any assistance or have any involvement in the Israeli strike, a U.S. official told ABC News. Top House Republican leaders are voicing support for Israel's strikes on Mike Johnson posted an Israeli flag on X and said, "Israel IS right—and has a right—to defend itself!Majority Leader Steve Scalise said he stands with Israel."Iran has refused to dismantle its nuclear program, which puts America at risk and poses an existential threat to Israel. Tonight Israel is taking action to defend itself, and we stand with Israel. Our prayers are with them and all American personnel in the region," Scalise said in a post on Trump administration officials, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said the U.S. was not involved in the strikes."The U.S. was not involved in the strikes, but our forces stand ready to defend themselves and our ally Israel," Rogers said in a statement.-ABC News' Lauren PellerThe head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Gen. Hossein Salami was killed in Israeli strikes on Iran, Iranian state TV reports. Also killed was Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization, according to Iranian state TV. Israel has not confirmed the deaths. A senior security official said, "There is a growing likelihood that the Iranian General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff, and senior nuclear scientists were eliminated in the opening blow."During a televised address, Israel Defense Forces Chief Eyal Zamir said the military was calling up "tens of thousands of soldiers" and was "prepared across all borders." The official went on to say, "I warn that anyone who will try to challenge us, will pay a heavy price."Following Israel's series of strikes on Iran, the U.S. Embassy in Israel has directed all American government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice."The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness – including knowing the location of the nearest shelter in the event of a red alert as security incidents, including mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any warning," the embassy said in a statement, adding, "The security environment is complex and can change quickly."A senior Israeli security official told ABC News that the Iranian General Staff and senior nuclear scientists were likely killed in the first of the series of Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear targets. "There is a growing likelihood that the Iranian General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff, and senior nuclear scientists were eliminated in the opening blow," the official said.-ABC News' Dana HughesThe president's schedule released by the White House late Thursday showed that he would meet with the National Security Council in the Situation Room at 11 of now, the meeting is not open to cameras or State Department has launched a Middle East task force focused on potentially evacuating American citizens from the region, two department officials told ABC News.'The Department continuously plans for a wide range of situations for regions with heightened tensions,' one official said.-ABC News' Shannon KingstonIn a video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had no choice but to stage a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear program.'In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponize this enriched uranium, and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,' he said.'It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival,' he said. There has been no comment yet from President Trump or the White House, but reporters could sense activity in the West was a Marine standing guard outside as it got close to 10 p.m., signaling Trump was still present, but the guard has now left.A "lid" has been called, meaning the White House has told pool reporters there will be no further movements or on-camera statements from the president – but that could change.-ABC News' John Parkinson Click here to read the rest of the blog.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Israel launches 'preemptive' strikes on Iran
Israel carried out "preemptive" strikes against Iran on Friday, targeting its nuclear plant and military sites, after US President Donald Trump warned of a possible "massive conflict" in the region. Explosions were heard Friday morning in the Iranian capital, state TV reported, adding that Iran's air defence were at "100 percent operational capacity". Israel declared a state of emergency, with Defence Minister Israel Katz saying that retaliatory action from Tehran was possible following the operation. "Following the State of Israel's preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future," Katz said. Oil prices surged as much as 6 percent on the strikes, which came after Trump warned of a possible Iranian attack and said the US was drawing down staff in the region. "I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen," Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday when asked if an Israeli attack loomed. Trump said he believed a "pretty good" deal on Iran's nuclear programme was "fairly close", but said that an Israeli attack on its arch foe could wreck the chances of an agreement. The US leader did not disclose the details of a conversation on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said: "I don't want them going in, because I think it would blow it." Trump quickly added: "Might help it actually, but it also could blow it." A US official said there had been no US involvement in the Israeli strikes on Iran. -- 'Extremist' -- The United States on Wednesday said it was reducing embassy staff in Iraq -- long a zone of proxy conflict with Iran. Israel, which counts on US military and diplomatic support, sees the cleric-run state in Tehran as an existential threat and hit Iranian air defences last year. Netanyahu has vowed less restraint since the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Tehran-backed Hamas, which triggered the massive Israeli offensive in Gaza. The United States and other Western countries, along with Israel, have repeatedly accused Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, which it has repeatedly denied. Israel again called for global action after the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Iran on Wednesday of non-compliance with its obligations. The resolution could lay the groundwork for European countries to invoke a "snapback" mechanism, which expires in October, that would reinstate UN sanctions eased under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by then US president Barack Obama. Trump pulled out of the deal in his first term and slapped Iran with sweeping sanctions. Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, slammed the resolution as "extremist" and blamed Israeli influence. In response to the resolution, Iran said it would launch a new enrichment centre in a secure location. Iran would also replace "all of these first-generation machines with sixth-generation advanced machines" at the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal and close, though still short, of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead. bur-hmn/tym
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump moves to block California electric cars program
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed resolutions blocking California's landmark efforts to phase out gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles, a move the state immediately contested in court. Trump's action, a rebuke of Democratic climate change policies, comes after the Republican-led Congress revoked the state's waiver allowing it to set more stringent regulations for cars. California had planned to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, among other ambitious efforts. During the signing ceremony at the White House, Trump lashed out at the state's bid as "a disaster for this country" and said the resolutions he was signing would save the industry from "destruction." California swiftly sued the Trump administration over the resolutions, with Attorney General Rob Bonta saying: "The President's divisive, partisan agenda is jeopardizing our lives, our economy and our environment." "It's reckless, it's illegal, and because of it, we'll be seeing the Trump administration in court again for the 26th time," he added. California, the nation's wealthiest state with around 40 million people, has long used the waiver in the Clean Air Act to set its own emissions standards as it tries to mitigate some of the worst air pollution in the country. The size of the auto market in the state -- and the fact that several other states follow its lead -- means automakers frequently use its standards nationwide. Trump's move also came as he clashes with California over immigration enforcement. California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused the president of acting like a tyrant over his use of the military to control small-scale protests in Los Angeles. - Environmental concerns - Trump's action was condemned by environmental groups who say the rules are key for easing pollution. And Newsom recently argued that rolling back the state's EV ambitions would boost China's position on the market. While China is a manufacturing hub for such vehicles globally, the United States is a net importer of them, he said in a May statement. This is despite the United States being home to technologies that have pioneered the clean car industry, he noted. Trump has repeatedly criticized subsidies to encourage the EV industry despite significant federal funding allocated to projects in Republican districts -- where thousands of jobs are expected to be created. He took aim at the sector as part of his flurry of executive orders on his first day in office this January in a bid to ensure what he called a "level" playing field for gasoline-powered motors. hg-bys/md
