Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests in Los Angeles, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognise the 250th anniversary of the US Army to denounce the demonstrators while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander-in-chief, former president Joe Biden.
The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and US Marines over the objections of California’s Democratic governor to quell disturbances that began as protests over immigration raids.
Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.
Trump has authorised the deployment of 4000 National Guard soldiers to the city over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.
About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area, but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.
California sued Trump over the deployment, with the state attorney general arguing that the president had “trampled” the state’s sovereignty.
California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters’ anger, leading crowds to block off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire.
