This weekend, the U.S. military is demonstrating its power on both coasts in starkly different ways. In Washington, D.C., a long-awaited military parade featuring tanks, howitzers, and thousands of soldiers will unfold down Constitution Avenue, fulfilling a wish President Donald Trump first voiced in 2018.
Simultaneously, on the West Coast, the Trump administration is deploying active federal military forces into the heart of Los Angeles to suppress protests responding to sweeping immigration raids.
The deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles follows intense public backlash to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, especially in the city’s Fashion District. Protesters have responded with large-scale demonstrations outside federal facilities, including the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Images from the ground show increasingly confrontational scenes between demonstrators and law enforcement, amid a backdrop of curfews and aggressive crowd control tactics.
Nationwide Protests Surge as Federal Immigration Crackdowns Reignite Progressive Resistance and Tensions
The unrest in L.A. is part of a broader national response. Over 1,800 “No Kings” protests have been organized across the country to oppose Trump’s agenda. Activist groups like Indivisible report surging participation numbers, fueled by recent ICE actions.
Protests have also erupted in other cities like Omaha, where federal raids targeted workplaces. Many see this moment as a defining test of resistance to the administration’s immigration and executive policies.
The demonstrations have reenergized progressive voices and immigration advocates who have felt politically sidelined since Trump’s re-election. California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the federal intervention in L.A., accusing the administration of using military power as a political spectacle rather than a necessity.
Trump Flexes Military Power Coast to Coast as Immigration Raids Ignite Nationwide Unrest and ProtestsHe called on protesters to remain peaceful and warned that the escalation was more about optics than law enforcement’s need.
Although federal troops currently lack the authority to make arrests, that could change if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act—a possibility he has openly considered. This move would mark a dramatic shift in federal involvement in domestic unrest.
White House statements have reinforced the administration’s commitment to using military power to enforce immigration laws, framing the deployment as a matter of national order and sovereignty.
Trump’s Allies Deploy Troops, Parade Power as Protests and Tensions Escalate Nationwide
Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has mirrored Trump’s approach, deploying more than 5,000 National Guard troops across his state in anticipation of immigration-related protests. Cities like San Antonio and Austin are preparing for unrest while affirming their support for peaceful assembly and immigrant communities. This move signals broader red-state alignment with Trump’s tactics, adding another layer of national polarization.
This federal assertiveness stands in contrast to Trump’s position during the 2020 racial justice protests, when he claimed he lacked the power to unilaterally deploy troops. Now, emboldened and reelected, Trump is embracing a far more aggressive stance. He frequently invokes past protests in cities like Portland and Minneapolis to justify his current strategy, portraying himself as tough on lawlessness, while critics see overreach.
While chaos unfolds in Los Angeles, Trump will celebrate in Washington with a grand military parade that doubles as a personal victory lap on his 79th birthday. The event, reportedly costing up to $45 million, will showcase the Army’s might but also risks attracting protests.
The president has warned that demonstrators will face “very big force.” Security experts and former officials warn that rather than calming the nation, the administration’s actions are inflaming tensions further.