Trump Vows to 'Liberate Los Angeles' Amid Immigration Protests

President Donald Trump declared on June 10 that he intends to “liberate Los Angeles,” accusing the city of being under siege by “outside forces” and calling for military intervention to restore order and public safety.

“We will liberate Los Angeles. We will make this city free, clean, and safe again,” Trump said during a speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, referencing the recent unrest in California following aggressive immigration enforcement actions.

Over the past week, Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to quell protests against ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Speaking to service members, Trump defended the military deployment, calling it necessary to protect federal agents and property. “The city could’ve gone up in flames without this intervention,” he said. “We cannot allow this lawlessness to continue. We will not let federal agents be attacked, and we certainly won’t allow an American city to be overrun or surrendered to foreign enemies.”

Although he did not name any specific “foreign enemies,” Trump appeared to reference protesters carrying flags of other nations—particularly Mexico. Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the U.S., is home to over 1.35 million immigrants, with Mexican nationals making up the largest share.

Trump claimed that the unrest in Los Angeles was the result of “uncontrolled migration,” drawing parallels to immigration issues in Europe. “Unregulated migration leads to chaos, disorder, and decline—no matter where it happens,” he said.

“The situation in California is a full-scale assault on peace, public order, and national sovereignty,” Trump said. “These riots, led by agitators waving foreign flags, are part of an ongoing invasion that threatens the fabric of our country.”

Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump offered no evidence of foreign interference. While protests have broken out across Los Angeles, violent clashes have largely been confined to a small area in the downtown core. City officials have implemented curfews to prevent looting and violence.

In response, California state officials have filed a federal lawsuit to block the military deployment, calling it an abuse of power and an unnecessary escalation of conflict.

Upon returning to Washington, Trump stood by his decision, insisting that the military presence is a stabilizing force. “I just want to see peace,” he said. “If there’s peace, we’ll leave. If not, we stay until it’s restored. Many people are being arrested. The agitators—call them what you will—should understand this: a lot of people are going to jail for a long time.”

(Reported by AP, CNN, AFP)