Protests in Los Angeles escalate into riots: US has its own ‘Maidan’ against Trump

Five months into his second term, Donald Trump has faced invisible resistance at home. After massive raids by the immigration service ICE in Los Angeles, the situation got out of control, causing a wave of protests that led to large-scale riots, including arson, pogroms, shootings, and clashes with law enforcement.

This was the first time in the last decade that a US president had announced the introduction of the National Guard into a city without the consent of local authorities. Protests that began over the Trump administration’s migration policy turned downtown Los Angeles into a conflict zone: places of mountains and burning police patrol cars became the backdrop for the escalation of violence.

Trump commented on the situation, saying that “the measures taken are necessary to rid Los Angeles of migrants” and assured that order would be restored.

California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted extremely sharply, calling the president’s actions “illegal and immoral” and vowing to sue. He emphasized that Trump himself contributed to the aggravation of the situation and is acting in a manner contrary to the Constitution.

The police changed their work regime against the backdrop of the introduction of a state of emergency, declaring the protesters an “unlawful assembly.” Cases of aggression were recorded from both sides; in particular, a journalist from an Australian television channel came under fire and was injured by a rubber bullet.

Acts of looting were also reported in the central part of the city, and law enforcement officials confirmed that protesters used incendiary devices, forcing police to resort to “less lethal means.” Drones that were involved in the taxi service also became victims of violence – several of them were set on fire.

Although the protests initially remained peaceful, the number of demonstrators increased significantly, resulting in large-scale clashes, including on key transportation routes.

Trump called for active intervention on social media, expressing his outrage at the situation in the city. Governor Newsom stated that Trump had lied by not coordinating his actions with him, claiming that this violated the state’s autonomy.

The constitutionality of the National Guard’s use is an excellent concern among lawyers, who point to the possibility of the president exceeding his powers. Newsom promises to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

According to official data, at least ten people were detained, three hundred National Guard soldiers were deployed on the streets of Los Angeles, and the use of tear gas and rubber bullets by police was confirmed.

The mayor of Los Angeles accused the White House of escalating the conflict, emphasizing that the situation only worsened after the appearance of federal forces. As of now, the atmosphere in the city remains tense, and protests continue, indicating a deep political crisis in the United States during President Trump’s second term.