With LA in crisis, Democrats are again caught in the immigration debate trap
The staging was expensive, but its political value was priceless. According to the Pentagon, the bill for deploying the National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, a move ordered by President Donald Trump to "liberate" the city from rioters, has already reached $134 million. But the benefit for the US president was immediate. Footage of soldiers facing masked protesters, some waving Latin American flags or throwing projectiles, has flooded social media and television screens. The looting of an Apple store only reinforced the narrative of a criminal, predatory protest. Trump condemned "insurrectionists," "agitators" and "paid troublemakers" – terms delegitimizing protests regardless of their motivations.
Throughout his election campaign, Trump pushed the narrative that the United States was undergoing a "migrant invasion," claiming that there are "more than 20 million" undocumented migrants, supposedly invited in by the Biden administration. Now the billionaire has pushed a similar narrative: He described, despite the facts, an insurrection in California intent on resisting the enforcement of immigration law. He has an ally in this endeavor: the Democratic camp, which is incapable of articulating a consensus view and offering a clear message on immigration. Former US president Joe Biden had been slow to grasp the urgency at the Mexican border. But the entire left seemed adrift, wavering between condemnation of Trump's crackdown and an airy promotion of immigration's virtues.
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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
World's papers react to unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iran
Iranian state-owned Press TV, owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, confirms that commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, including senior General Hossein Salami and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Bagheri, have been "martyred". Press TV quoted the leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran who said that the "Zionist regime has prepared a bitter and painful fate for itself", adding that Iran's defence ministry is "fully ready" to punish Israel severely. Press TV is actively tweeting too, claiming that Iranian civilian neighbourhoods and residential buildings in Tehran have been targeted. The news channel also stated that in the Narmak neighbourhood of Tehran, five people were killed and 20 injured. The Israeli press is also reacting. Left-wing daily Haaretz writes that Israel launched "pre-emptive strikes" and is preparing for retaliation from Iran. The paper says that although various reports said that the United States formally expressed its opposition to the attacks, it remains unclear whether the US offered to share intelligence or aerial refuelling capacity. The paper says this option would allow the White House to participate "while maintaining some sort of plausible deniability". The editor-in-chief of the right-wing Jerusalem Post quotes the IDF's Chief of Staff, who says the strikes were launched because they reached "a point of no return". "History taught us: when faced with threats to destroy us, we must never bow our heads." In an analysis piece, The Jerusalem Post writes that Israel struck because Iran's ambitions "are no longer hypothetical". The paper says that intelligence showed that Iran had enriched enough uranium to produce some 15 nuclear warheads and was actively conducting nuclear tests. Finally, we turn to reactions from the international press. The New York Times writes that Israel's attack aims to "cripple" Iran's nuclear program. The paper also says that the major attack could escalate into a war involving the most powerful militaries in the Middle East. Al Jazeera calls it a "major strike". American broadcaster NBC News highlights the fact that the strikes were conducted without US involvement. French right-wing Le Figaro says that the Israeli strikes are a "bitter setback for Trump", who claims to be a "peacemaker". The paper writes that the US president asked Israel to choose diplomacy and not attack Iran, but only a few hours later, the strikes began. The Wall Street Journal reports that oil prices rose by more than 8 percent after Israel's attack, reaching their highest level since February. It adds that the rise shows that traders don't think the US will lift restrictions on Iranian barrels.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
'Avoid escalation': World reacts to Israel strike on Iran
Here is a roundup of key reactions: 'Cannot have nuclear bomb': United States US President Donald Trump, told Fox News he was aware Israel was going to conduct strikes on Iran before it happened and said: "Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb and we are hoping to get back to the negotiating table. We will see." Fox News also reported that "Trump noted the US is ready to defend itself and Israel if Iran retaliates." 'Maximum restraint': UN UN chief Antonio Guterres asked "both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford," according to a spokesperson. Guterres was "particularly concerned" by Israel's strikes on nuclear installations amid the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. 'Deeply worried' : China "The Chinese side... is deeply worried about the severe consequences that such actions might bring," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, calling "on relevant parties to take actions that promote regional peace and stability and to avoid further escalation of tensions". - 'Reasonable reaction': Czech Republic - Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said Iran "is supporting so many players, including the Hezbollah and Hamas movements, with the intention to destroy the state of Israel, and also seeking a nuclear bomb", that "I see that this was a reasonable reaction from the state of Israel towards a possible threat of a nuclear bomb". 'Avoid any escalation' : France "We call on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability," France's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. 'Dangerous escalation': Hamas "This aggression constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," said the Iran-backed, Palestinian militant group, whose October 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war. No 'battleground': Jordan "Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict," a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace. 'Dangerous approach' : Oman Nuclear talks mediator Oman said "calls on the international community to adopt a clear and firm position to put an end to this dangerous approach, which threatens to rule out diplomatic solutions and jeopardise the security and stability of the region". 'Strong condemnation': Qatar Gaza mediator Qatar expressed "its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said, adding that the "dangerous escalation threatens security and stability of the region and hinders efforts to de-escalate and reach diplomatic solutions". 'Aggressive actions': Turkey "Israel must put an immediate end to its aggressive actions that could lead to further conflicts," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. 'Reduce tensions urgently': UK British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. Escalation serves no one in the region." Tehran-backed Huthi rebels said on Telegram they backed "Iran's full and legitimate right to... develop its nuclear programme" and that "we strongly condemn the brutal Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and affirm its full and legitimate right to respond by all possible means". burs-djt/yad © 2025 AFP
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
Federal judge rules Trump's deployment of National Guard in LA 'illegal,' but appeals court halts decision
Will they stay? Will they pull back? The deployment of the California National Guard in the streets of Los Angeles was suspended on Thursday, June 12, pending the outcome of legal proceedings in the US courts. In the early evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, claimed victory. In a temporary restraining order, Judge Charles Breyer, of the Northern District of California, ruled that Donald Trump's June 7 takeover of the state's National Guard was "illegal," Trump had done so on the grounds that local authorities were unable to control protesters who had invaded the downtown area to try to prevent the deportation of undocumented immigrants. "Today was really about a test of democracy, and today we passed the test," Newsom said in celebration. The order was set to take effect Friday, June 13, at noon local time. At a press conference, the governor announced that the troops would return to their regular duties as of Friday – tasks he described as far more important than maintaining order that was not truly threatened by protesters: clearing brush from forests ahead of fire season and combating drug trafficking. "Donald Trump will be relieved of his command at noon tomorrow," he insisted.
