Marines ordered by Trump to LA start deploying
The first US Marines ordered by Donald Trump to Los Angeles will deploy Friday, the Pentagon said, raising the stakes in a standoff that pits the president against protesters claiming growing authoritarianism.
The approximately 200 Marines are part of a group of 700 set to join 4,000 National Guard soldiers, while local police conduct a crackdown on unrest over Trump's sweeps for undocumented migrants.
The Marines -- normally used as crack troops in foreign conflicts -- will be equipped with riot gear to guard a federal building starting from 12:00 pm (1900 GMT), Major General Scott Sherman told reporters.
An intense legal battle is underway over Trump's authority to deploy troops on US soil, as the country braces for widespread protests Saturday, when the Republican will be overseeing a rare large-scale military parade in Washington.
The parade celebrates the 250th anniversary of the US Army but also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday and will be the first time tanks and other heavy weaponry has rolled through the capital city in three decades.
A "No Kings" movement has sprung up promising to stage protests in more than 2,000 places across the country in response.
Trump dispatched about the California National Guard to Los Angeles last weekend following mostly peaceful, but occasionally violent protests against a surge in immigration raids in the second-largest US city.
In a show of political force, Trump overrode the objections of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom who usually would control the Guard. The president repeatedly exaggerated the scale of violence, claiming that without troops, Los Angeles would be "burning to the ground right now."
Late Thursday, District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump's actions were "illegal" and ordered that he return control of the guard to Newsom. Breyer said the LA unrest fell "far short" of the "rebellion" that Trump had described.
However, a higher court quickly paused the order pending an appeal hearing with the Trump administration next Tuesday.
The Department of Justice slammed Breyer's ruling as "an extraordinary intrusion on the President's constitutional authority as Commander in Chief."
The dispute mirrors multiple other tussles over Trump's attempts to expand the limits of presidential power, but is the first to involve troops.
The use of Marines is especially controversial, although those deploying Friday will be at a building nowhere near the site of last week's protests.
- 'Voices for the people' -
AFP | RONALDO SCHEMIDT
Many in Los Angeles are angry about immigration raids carried out as part of Trump's ambition to deport vast numbers of undocumented migrants around the country.
Outrage at Trump's raids and the use of masked, armed immigration agents backed by uniformed soldiers has already sparked protests in other cities, including San Francisco, New York, Chicago and San Antonio, Texas.
"What brings me out here? The people that were taken, people who don't have voices. We are the voice for the people," Jasmine, a protester in Los Angeles, told AFP on Thursday.
Tensions hiked further Thursday when California Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, was handcuffed and forcibly removed from a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The incident "reeks of totalitarianism," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, calling for an investigation.
The White House hit back, claiming despite video evidence to the contrary, that Padilla "lunged toward Secretary Noem."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
4 hours ago
- eNCA
US protesters hit streets before Trump's military parade
Thousands of people on Saturday rallied nationwide against the policies of US President Donald Trump ahead of a rare military parade on his 79th birthday -- but the killing of a Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota cast a pall over the day's events. Trump was quick to condemn the targeted shootings of two lawmakers outside Minneapolis -- one died along with her husband, while the other and his wife have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The shocking murder was the latest in a string of incidents of political violence, including an attempt on Trump's life in July last year, and an April arson attack on the home of Pennsylvania's governor, who is a Democrat and Jewish. The shootings prompted Minnesota state authorities to call on residents not to attend protests by the so-called "No Kings" movement organized across the United State, which began at noon (1600 GMT) in some East Coast locations. Organizers said the rallies would be the largest since Trump returned to office in January, adding that they were "rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy." "I'm here because the things that are happening in this administration are very disturbing," Sarah Hargrave, 42, told AFP in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, where about 1,000 people rallied. AFP | Thomas SAMSON Organizers said they expected millions of people in more than 1,500 cities including New York, Houston, Seattle, Atlanta and Trump's second home in Palm Beach, Florida to protest. A small group even gathered in Paris. Thousands hit the streets in Philadelphia, one of the movement's flagship events. Thousands more demonstrators are expected to turn out in Los Angeles to protest against Trump's deployment of troops in America's second-largest city following clashes sparked by immigration raids. Downtown, Trump planned a giant celebration of the US Army's 250th birthday -- and his own -- in Washington with tanks, helicopters and nearly 7,000 troops at a reported cost of up to $45 million. "This is a big day for America!!!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform. But the Minnesota shootings, the threat of thunderstorms in the US capital, and the barrage of missiles raining down in Tel Aviv and Tehran -- a conflict in which the American military is assisting -- could cast a long shadow over the president's event. - Rain on Trump's parade? - AFP | SAUL LOEB Trump says the Washington parade will be "like no other" -- but has promised to use "very big force" if protesters attempt to disrupt the spectacle. The rare military parade is the largest in the United States since the end of the Gulf War in 1991. Soldiers will wear uniforms dating back through US history to its independence from Britain. More than 50 helicopters will be involved including Apache gunships and Black Hawk transport choppers. Around 150 military vehicles -- including 28 Abrams battle tanks and 56 armored vehicles -- will rumble past. The parade is meant to end with a parachute display as members of the army's Golden Knights team jump in and present Trump with a US flag -- on Flag Day, which marks the adoption of the Stars and Stripes. AFP | Amid FARAHI The route will pass historic landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, ending up near the White House. But thunderstorms could hit Washington on Saturday when the parade is taking place. Trump put a brave face on the forecast Saturday, saying on Truth Social: "Our great military parade is on, rain or shine. Remember, a rainy day parade brings good luck. I'll see you all in DC." - 'Vulgar display' - AFP | Mandel NGAN Trump has been obsessed with having a parade since his first term as president when he attended France's annual Bastille Day parade in Paris at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron in 2017. But Trump's opponents accuse him of using the event to feed his ego. "No Kings" organizers said they expected millions of people in more than 1,500 cities to take part in the protests. They said it was a "direct response to Donald Trump's self-aggrandizing" parade, "funded by taxpayers while millions are told there's no money." An NBC News poll published Saturday revealed that nearly two in three Americans surveyed -- 64 percent -- oppose using government funds for the military parade. California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who slammed Trump for sending National Guard troops into Los Angeles without his consent, said it was a "vulgar display of weakness." "To fete the Dear Leader on his birthday? What an embarrassment," Newsom, a Democrat, said Thursday, likening the display to a military parade in Kim Jong Un's North Korea.
eNCA
6 hours ago
- eNCA
Putin tells Trump Russia is ready for next round of Ukraine talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his US counterpart Donald Trump Saturday that Moscow was ready to hold a fresh round of peace talks with Kyiv after June 22, once the warring sides complete exchanging prisoners and soldiers' bodies. Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile did not mention whether Ukraine would agree to the next round of talks, only saying that "the exchanges will be completed and the parties will discuss the next step." Putin and Trump held a call for the fifth time since the Republican took office and sought to reset relations with Moscow, in a stark pivot from the approach of his predecessor Joe Biden's administration to Russia's 2022 invasion of its neighbour. Trump's approach has stunned Washington's allies, raising doubts about the future of US aid to Kyiv and leaving Europe scrambling to work out how it can fill any gap in supplies if Trump decides to pull US military, financial and intelligence support. "Both leaders expressed satisfaction with their personal relations," during the call, the Kremlin said. It added that the presidents "communicate in a businesslike manner and seek solutions to pressing issues on the bilateral and international agenda, no matter how complex these issues may be." Zelensky urged the United States to "shift tone" in its dialogue with Russia, saying it was "too warm" and would not help to end the war. "Any signals of reduced aid, or of treating Ukraine and Russia as equals, are deeply unfair. Russia is the aggressor. They started this war. They do not want to end it," the Ukrainian President said on X. The Ukrainian leader also warned against a drop in aid due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, at a time when European support is stalling without US engagement. The recent escalation sparked anxiety in Kyiv about future supplies of military aid, fearing Washington might relocate more resources to beef up the defence of its close ally Israel which unleashed a large-scale attack on Iran Friday. "We would like to see aid to Ukraine not decrease because of this," he said. "Last time, this was a factor that slowed down aid to Ukraine." - More soldiers exchanged - Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine and Russia swapped prisoners in the fourth such exchange this week, part of a large-scale plan to bring back 1,000 wounded prisoners from each side and return bodies of killed soldiers. The prisoner agreement was the only visible result of two recent rounds of talks in Istanbul. Photos published by Zelensky on Telegram showed men of various ages, mostly with shaved heads, wearing camouflage and draped in Ukrainian flags. Some were injured, others disembarked from buses and hugged those welcoming them, or were seen calling someone by phone, sometimes covering their faces or smiling. Moscow's defence ministry released its own video showing men in uniforms holding Russian flags, clapping and chanting "Glory to Russia" and "hooray", some raising their fists in the air. As part of the Istanbul agreements, Kyiv also said it had received another 1,200 unidentified bodies from Russia. It said Moscow had said they were those of "Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel." Ukraine did not say whether it returned any bodies to Russia. Russia has rejected calls to halt its three-year offensive. It has demanded Ukraine cede territory and renounce Western military support if it wants peace. Since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the assault has forced millions of people to flee their homes as towns and cities across eastern Ukraine have been flattened by heavy bombardments. Meanwhile, Russia intensified its advances along the front line, especially on the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy, where it seeks to establish a "buffer zone". By doing it, Moscow seeks to protect its bordering region of Kursk, previously partly occupied by Ukraine. Zelensky said Russia's advance on Sumy was stopped and that Kyiv's forces had managed to retake one village. He also denied Moscow's earlier claims that its troops entered the Dnipropetrovsk region. He said 53,000 Russian soldiers were involved in the Sumy operation.
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
US Marines make first detention in LA as more protests expected
US Marines deployed to Los Angeles made their first detention of a civilian on Friday, part of a rare use of military force to support domestic police and coming ahead of national protests over President Donald Trump's military parade in Washington. The detention of the man, a US Army veteran and an immigrant who obtained US citizenship, punctuated a series of highly unusual events that have appealed to Trump supporters but outraged other Americans who are demonstrating discontent in the streets. Trump ordered the Marines to Los Angeles in response to street protests over immigration raids, joining National Guard forces already deployed to the city over the objection of California's governor. Trump said troops were necessary to quell the protests — a contention that state and local officials dispute. About 1,800 protests are scheduled across the US on Saturday in opposition to the Washington military parade that marks the 250th anniversary of the US Army and coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. Both the military parade and domestic use of active duty troops are uncommon for the US , as was the military detention of a US citizen on American soil. It was also unusual when federal agents forcibly removed and handcuffed a US Senator on Thursday as he interrupted a press conference by Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem. Trump has thrived politically on unconventional tactics. But Democratic opponents are starting to push back. Fifteen protests are expected in Los Angeles alone, mayor Karen Bass said, urging people to remain peaceful. 'We are here today because the raids have caused fear and panic,' Bass said, joined by two dozen elected officials to oppose the raids and military presence. 'Can the federal government come in and seize power from a state and from a local jurisdiction? How much will the American people put up with?' About 200 Marines were assigned to protect the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, part of a battalion of 700 Marines sent to support the National Guard, said army Maj-Gen Scott Sherman, who is in command of both the National Guard and Marine forces. The Marines and National Guard deployed in Los Angeles are assigned to protect federal property and personnel and may temporarily detain people, but they are required to turn them over to civilian law enforcement for any formal arrest. Reuters witnessed Marines detain one person at the Wilshire Federal Building. Reuters images showed Marines restraining his hands with zip ties and then handing him over to civilians from the department of homeland security (DHS) nearly two hours later. US military confirmed the detention after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active duty troops. The detained man, Marcos Leao, 27, an immigrant and a US Army veteran, said after he was released that he was told to get on the ground upon venturing into a restricted area, as he crossed a line of yellow tape to avoid walking around the building. Leao, who said he is Portuguese and Angolan and became a US citizen through the military, said he complied with all commands and that the Marines apparently mistook him for a protester when he simply had business with the Veterans Administration office inside the building. 'They treated me very fairly,' Leao said, adding that he was told, 'Understand, this is a whole stressful situation for everybody, and we all have a job.' Asked about the incident, the US military's Northern Command spokesperson said active duty forces 'may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances', and that the detention would end when the person is transferred to civilian law enforcement. DHS referred press queries to the Northern Command. Meanwhile, Los Angeles demonstrations continued for an eighth straight day, after they were sparked last Friday by a series of immigrations raids. The demonstrations have been concentrated in the downtown area, and fewer than 1% of those present have caused problems, Los Angeles County sheriff Robert Luna said. Some people have been charged with assaulting a police officer, looting, or damaging property. There was a 'big difference' between legitimate protesters and 'people who are coming out to cause problems', Luna said at a press conference in which law enforcement officers said they welcomed peaceful protests on Saturday but warned they would arrest those who harm others or damage property. Bass implemented a curfew over 2.5 square km of the downtown area, which officials said has been useful for maintaining order. Bass said there was 'no termination date' for the curfew. 'We are hoping that if the cause of the turmoil ends, which is stopping the raids, then I can almost guarantee you the curfew will go away in short order,' Bass said.
