In a dramatic turn of events, Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday night, issuing unprecedented orders to ICE officers to prioritize deportations in cities governed by Democrats. This politically charged directive came just hours after millions of protesters flooded major American cities, demanding an end to what they perceive as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies.
On Saturday, protests erupted in multiple Democrat-controlled districts, with organizers estimating the participation of millions. In stark contrast, the crowd at Trump’s birthday parade in Washington, D.C. was significantly smaller. In his Truth Social post, Trump singled out these cities as hubs of Democrat power, alleging that they exploit illegal immigration to expand their voter base, engage in electoral fraud, and bolster the welfare state. However, Trump provided no evidence to substantiate his claims of election fraud.
Former Meet the Press host Chuck Todd weighed in on Trump’s remarks, suggesting that the former president was “openly admitting” to politicizing law enforcement during a time of civil unrest. Todd expressed concern that this approach would tarnish the image of ICE, emphasizing that Trump’s demands constitute a political maneuver rather than a law enforcement strategy. “At a moment when we need a president to de-escalate, he does the opposite,” Todd stated.
Last month, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller insisted that ICE should aim for a minimum of 3,000 arrests per day. Trump’s lengthy 400-word post on Truth Social included several familiar MAGA talking points, lamenting the actions of “Radical Left Democrats” who, according to him, “hate our Country” and advocate for policies like open borders and transgender rights.
In his tirade, Trump declared, “I have directed my entire administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once idyllic towns into scenes of Third World dystopia.” He also invoked the term “remigration,” vowing that the federal government would focus on the “REMIGRATION of Aliens” to their countries of origin and prevent anyone who threatens the domestic tranquility of the United States from entering.
Trump concluded his post with a rallying cry for various law enforcement agencies, stating, “To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE! DJT.” This call to action comes on the heels of the No Kings protests that occurred while Trump was in Washington, marking a significant moment of civil dissent against his administration.
The No Kings protests saw participation from an estimated 4-6 million people at over 2,000 sites nationwide, with significant turnouts in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Most of these events were peaceful, showcasing widespread discontent with Trump's policies. Independent data journalist G Elliott reported that over 200,000 people protested in New York and Los Angeles alone, with additional gatherings in Chicago attracting around 75,000 participants.
In response to the ongoing protests against deportations, which have now entered their 10th day, Trump has deployed the National Guard and U.S. Marines in Los Angeles. Addressing reporters before his departure to Canada for the G7 summit, Trump asserted that the presence of the National Guard was deterring protesters. “If we didn’t have the National Guard on call and ready they would rip Los Angeles apart,” he claimed, implying that their presence was essential to maintaining order.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has publicly condemned Trump’s decision to send military troops into the city, further intensifying the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of military involvement in civil matters.
