As federal troops stand vigilant in California against unrest surrounding ICE operations, President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to any potential protesters planning to disrupt the upcoming military parade in Washington, D.C. He promised that such actions would be met with “very heavy force.”
The military parade, set for June 14, is a key event in the week-long celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. This grand spectacle will feature military demonstrations, static displays of equipment, and culminate in a concert and fireworks.
“We’re going to celebrate big on Saturday,” Trump declared at the Oval Office on June 10. “If any protesters want to come out, they will be met with very big force.” While he claimed ignorance of any planned protests, he suggested that those who would disrupt the parade show a lack of respect for America.
In Trump’s view, any protest would signal not just dissent but a deep-seated antipathy toward the nation. “I haven’t even heard about a protest, but you know, this is people that hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force,” he asserted.
The White House has yet to clarify or comment on the president’s remarks. This warning comes in the wake of Trump’s recent decision to deploy National Guard and Marine forces to Los Angeles amid violent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities.
Over the past weekend, Trump mobilized 2,100 Guard members to respond to the anti-ICE demonstrations, inciting objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials. Trump insisted that Los Angeles would have faced “complete obliteration” without this intervention, while Mayor Karen Bass labeled the federal response excessive and unnecessary. Newsom has even initiated a lawsuit against the deployment, asserting that Trump’s actions violate state sovereignty and waste resources.
As tensions escalated, the Trump administration activated an additional 700 active-duty Marines for Los Angeles, although Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith clarified that their mission was solely to protect federal property and personnel, not to directly engage in protests.
In a further escalation, Trump authorized another 2,000 National Guard troops to be dispatched to Los Angeles, claiming that without federal action, “right now Los Angeles would be burning.” He suggested he might invoke the Insurrection Act to address the unrest, a measure that allows the president to deploy military forces in domestic disputes.
Trump described the protesters as “paid insurrectionists,” alleging they were engaging in violent actions, such as breaking concrete to use as projectiles against law enforcement. His administration has pointed to perceived delays in action by Bass and Newsom as justification for the federal intervention, a claim both officials have denied. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell noted that the department is well-equipped to manage large protests.
The protests have not been confined to Los Angeles; they have spread to cities like San Francisco, Santa Ana, Dallas, and Austin, Texas. In Austin, police were compelled to use tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds after officers were injured by thrown objects.
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