Is Trump's position weakening in the US? LA protests give a hint despite allies' claims

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As Los Angeles protests turn into a mass movement against his rule and approval ratings fall, US President Donald Trump appears to be on a shaky wicket. Even as he prepares to roll down tanks and soldiers on his birthday, the brewing discontent and opposition challenges the show of strength. read more
Demonstrators holding signs and flags face California National Guard members standing guard outside the Federal Building as they protest federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, on June 9, 2025. (Photo: AFP)
US President Donald Trump had a euphoric start to his second term: he had just scored a historic victory, his approval ratings were soaring, the Democratic Party was in shambles, the Congress was essentially a rubber stamp body, and the Supreme Court was in his pocket.
Now, five months later, Trump is facing brutal reality checks: the Los Angeles protests against his immigration policy are spiralling into a mass movement against his rule, he has received rebuke after rebuke from the courts about his executive overreach, his policies have plunged the US economy into recession fears and trade war with China has backfired, and his approval ratings have fallen.
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Trump's international reputation is also in tatters as he has failed to end wars in Ukraine and Gaza — he had said he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours.
After National Guards, Trump has deployed US Marines in Los Angeles — the deployment of military on domestic soil against own citizens is an extraordinary step. More Americans oppose such a deployment than support and more Americans disapprove of Trump's performance than approve, as per latest polls.
Americans reject US Marines deployment, Trump's policies
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the deployment of US Marines to Los Angeles amounts to crossing a red line and the American public agrees.
As many as 47 per cent Americans oppose Trump's deployment of Marines against 34 per cent who support it, according to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday.
'US Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country — defending democracy. They are not political pawns. The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend. It's a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this. The Courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling. This is a red line — and they're crossing it. Wake up!' said Newsom.
The YouGov poll also found that 52 per cent Americans disapprove of Trump's policies in the week ending Monday.
Trump plans birthday parade — even as uprising swells
Even as the uprising against his rule is swelling, Trump is planning a military parade for his birthday on Saturday.
Formally, the parade is supposed to mark the 250th foundation day of the US Army, but critics have said that the scale of the parade has been ramped up to unprecedented scale for the pleasure of Trump who would mark his birthday with the parade like leaders of authoritarian regimes usually do by removing the difference between their personal life and public office.
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While Trump looks forward to the parade, Los Angeles protests have spread to at least 22 places across the United States, such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta. NBC News has reported that at least 25 rallies and demonstrations have been organised against Trump's rule since Monday.
Unlike his first term when mass protests against his rule were rather frequent, such protests had not been reported until this month in Trump's second term.
Trump defies laws and courts — again
With his deployment of military and mobilisation of National Guards, Trump has not just triggered Democrats, but has also possibly triggered courts — again.
In his second term, Trump has defied courts multiple times by not following its orders regarding immigration crackdown and deportations. Now, as Newsom has challenged the troop deployment, Trump is expected to defy courts again if they don't rule in his favour.
If and when such defiance comes, the rule of law in the United States would further erode in the eyes of Trump's critics and possibly fan further protests.
By law, the US government cannot deploy military for domestic law enforcement for law enforcement purposes unless certain laws like the Insurrection Act are invoked. Trump has so far not invoked the act. The Trump administration has maintained that National Guards were mobilised and Marines were deployed to just protect federal law enforcement personnel and properties.
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Critics have said that owing to authoritarian tendencies where Trump does not recognise anything that goes against him, whether it is court orders or election results as seen in 2020 election when he egged on a mob to attack the Capitol to illegally overturn the result in his favour, the deployment of the military on American soil is a very dangerous precedent.