Trump labels the protests in Los Angeles as a “foreign invasion” to justify deploying troops.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, visited Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Tuesday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. During his speech to the military, the President described the protests that have been occurring in Los Angeles in recent days as a “foreign invasion.” Trump exaggerated the gravity of the situation to take another step in his authoritarian drift, mobilizing around 2,000 members of the National Guard and about 700 Marines. “We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy,” he stated, fabricating a nonexistent war.

Presenting himself as Commander in Chief in front of a military audience, the President delivered a partisan message, attacking Democratic authorities and defending his legislative agenda, in a speech entirely devoid of institutional character. Like a rally, cheered on by soldiers, he defended, for instance, the tax exemption on tips he promised during his campaign and repeated the false claim that he was robbed of the 2020 election, a defeat he still refuses to accept.

“Have you heard that I’ve deployed thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to protect federal law enforcement from attacks by a violent and ruthless mob and some left-wing radicals?” Trump asked the soldiers.

“Generations of military heroes did not spill their blood on distant shores just to see our country destroyed by the invasion and anarchy of the third world right here at home, as is happening in California. As Commander in Chief, I will not allow that to happen,” he stated, despite the protests being very localized, property damage being limited, and there being no fatalities.

“What you are witnessing in California is a full-scale attack on peace, public order, and national sovereignty carried out by rioters waving foreign flags with the aim of continuing the foreign invasion of our country. We are not going to allow that to happen. Remember, millions of people were allowed into our country without any control or investigation by stupid, radical leftist or sick people,” the Republican insisted in his hyperbolic message.

According to Trump, the entire city of Los Angeles would be burning and reduced to ashes if he had not sent in the troops, even though the protests have mostly been peaceful, isolated violent incidents have occurred, and the National Guards sent have played almost no role.

He also baselessly claimed that those participating in the protests are being paid: “These guys are professionals. They are not amateurs,” he stated.

“They bring [concrete bombs] to the bridges and throw them at passing cars, like animals. They proudly carry other countries’ flags, but they do not carry the American flag. They only burn it,” he described. “It wasn’t people from our country or people who love our country burning flags. Those who burned the American flag should go to jail for a year,” he said, even though flag burning is recognized in the United States as an exercise of free speech protected by the Constitution. “The rioters are throwing incendiary bombs, Molotov cocktails, setting vehicles on fire,” he continued, emphasizing each of the violent incidents that have occurred.

The President repeatedly insisted on the xenophobic message that served him so well in the November 5, 2024 elections, paving his way to the White House. “Many of those people were brought here by the Biden administration. They brought them here. They came from prisons. They came from jails around the world. They came from mental institutions. They were gang leaders. They were drug lords. They were allowed to enter our country. Their countries threw them out. Their countries bused or drove them to our border and said, ‘Come in and if you come back, we will kill you,’” he said, repeating almost word for word the narrative created for his campaign rallies.

[Breaking news. Update coming soon]