Trump’s Use of Military Force Against Protesters Highlights Political Vulnerability

President Trump has chosen to deploy federal troops and mobilize elements of the California National Guard and nearby Marines to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement in confronting protests in Los Angeles. These demonstrations oppose efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrant workers in the city.

This approach echoes an earlier desire during Trump’s first term to take similar action, which was ultimately blocked by then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Although current protests are smaller than the nationwide demonstrations of 2020, the administration appears intent on revisiting a forceful response. His successor, Secretary Pete Hegseth, has shown equal willingness to apply government authority aggressively against dissent.

There is a palpable intent within the White House to intimidate protesters through force, seemingly as a means to consolidate power and impose rule through coercion and fear.

However, the swift and potentially unlawful use of military force in this context signals political weakness rather than strength. It exposes the administration’s fragile standing and underscores the limitations of its policy agenda. While some may interpret the president’s readiness to escalate tensions as boldness, true strong governments rarely respond to protests with immediate militarization or escalate conflicts without strategic restraint.

This administration’s reliance on blunt force suggests a lack of alternative strategies and raises questions about its preparedness for public resistance that does not yield to intimidation.

Before evaluating the administration’s position further, it is important to review the circumstances that have led to the current standoff in Los Angeles.