United States President Donald Trump issued a stark warning against what he termed a "foreign invasion" as protests in Los Angeles continued to intensify, sparking fears of a deepening political and constitutional crisis.
Addressing troops at Fort Bragg, one of the largest US military bases located in North Carolina, the president claimed the unrest was being fuelled by "outsiders" and individuals waving "foreign flags", accusing them of threatening public order and national sovereignty.
“This anarchy will not stand. We will not allow federal agents to be attacked, and we will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy,” Mr Trump said in remarks that drew criticism from state officials and civil rights advocates alike.
The president’s comments came amid a controversial decision to deploy thousands of federal troops — including 700 active duty US Marines — to Los Angeles, a move the California leadership has rejected as provocative and unconstitutional.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the president’s actions as “dictatorial” and warned that the military intervention risked inflaming an already volatile situation. “This is not a warzone. These are American streets and American citizens,” Governor Newsom said in a statement.
During his speech, Mr Trump also lashed out at prominent Democratic figures, prompting boos from troops after he named Governor Newsom and former president Joe Biden. The president referred to demonstrators as “animals” and accused them of seeking to undermine American identity.
“What you’re witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags with the aim of continuing a foreign invasion of our country,” he told troops.
The president has consistently attempted to link the ongoing demonstrations — which began as peaceful protests — to what he refers to as "uncontrolled migration", echoing sentiments frequently voiced by right-wing commentators and conservative media outlets.
“As the entire world can now see, uncontrolled migration leads to chaos, dysfunction and disorder,” Mr Trump said. “And you know what? They have it in Europe too. It’s happening in many of the countries of Europe. They better do something before it’s too late.”
Observers say the president’s increasingly incendiary rhetoric is part of a broader strategy aimed at mobilising his conservative base ahead of the upcoming election season. Critics, however, argue that it risks undermining democratic norms and escalating tensions between state and federal authorities.
Civil liberties groups have also raised concerns about the language used by the president, warning that branding protesters as "foreign agents" and "animals" dehumanises American citizens and sets a dangerous precedent.
“Characterising US residents protesting on American soil as agents of a foreign invasion is not only false, it is deeply irresponsible,” said Rachel Klein of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “This is a moment for dialogue, not militarisation.”
Despite opposition from state leaders, the White House has shown no indication it plans to back down, signalling that additional deployments to other cities experiencing unrest could follow.
The situation in Los Angeles remains tense, with large crowds continuing to gather in defiance of curfews and heightened security measures. While some demonstrations have resulted in clashes with law enforcement, local officials stress that the majority remain peaceful.
