Trump's America Are Journalists Now Enemy Number One?

Article Heading: Trump's Escalating Tactics: From Speculation to Action Against Protesters

The situation in Los Angeles is rapidly escalating, raising serious concerns about the state of democracy in the US. Recent protests against the Trump administration's mass deportation policies have been met with a heavy-handed response, including the deployment of the National Guard and disturbing incidents of violence against journalists.

A stark example of this escalating tension occurred when Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, covering the protests, was seemingly targeted by an LAPD officer and struck in the leg with a rubber bullet during a live broadcast. This incident followed reports of British photojournalist Nick Stern undergoing emergency surgery after suffering a similar injury from "non-lethal" ammunition.

These events unfold against a backdrop of increasing animosity and strong rhetoric from the Trump administration towards dissent and immigration.

A Memo and a Deployment: Setting the Stage

After nonviolent protests erupted in response to ICE raids and arrests in the Los Angeles suburb of Paramount, President Trump issued a memo denouncing the demonstrations as "a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States." This characterization paved the way for the deployment of the National Guard, a move that resonates with historical precedents, albeit troubling ones:

• Kent State, 1970: National Guard members fatally shot four students protesting the Vietnam War.
• Los Angeles, 1992: The National Guard was deployed during protests following the acquittal of officers involved in the Rodney King beating.

Echoes of the Past, Concerns for the Future

Disturbingly, this isn't the first time Trump has hinted at using force against his own citizens. Former Secretary of Defence Mark Esper revealed that, during the Black Lives Matter protests, Trump allegedly inquired about the possibility of "just shoot[ing] them in the legs or something?" This, coupled with Trump's history of demonizing his political opponents, paints a worrying picture.

Consider these points:

• During his election campaign, Trump vowed to "root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country," a statement that drew comparisons to the rhetoric of historical dictators.
• He has consistently promoted unfounded conspiracy theories about "sanctuary cities," portraying them as lawless and "invaded" by immigrants, despite evidence to the contrary.

'The Cruelty Is the Point'

The Trump administration's mass deportation program has been criticized for its inherent cruelty and provocativeness. As Adam Serwer wrote in The Atlantic, "the cruelty is the point." The arbitrary detention of individuals, including US citizens and children, by masked ICE agents has fueled public outrage and sparked the protests now met with such forceful opposition.

Manufacturing a Crisis

While nonviolent protests are a hallmark of a functioning democracy, the Trump administration appears to be actively manufacturing a crisis to justify its actions. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a key architect of the mass deportation program, has described the protests as "an insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States." This inflammatory rhetoric, coupled with the ambiguous language of the presidential memo deploying the National Guard, suggests a potential for further escalation and broader deployment in other areas.

A Broader Assault on Democracy

This situation unfolds amidst a wider crisis for US democracy. Trump's attacks on independent media, his targeting of institutions like universities, and his efforts to undermine the judiciary all contribute to a climate of authoritarianism. His administration's policies on minority rights, reproductive rights, and civil rights further exacerbate these concerns.

As New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie poignantly observed, the current state of affairs represents "a failure, not just of our party system or our legal system, but of our Constitution and its ability to meaningfully constrain a destructive and system-threatening force in our political life."

The events in Los Angeles, while concerning in their own right, must be viewed within the larger context of the Trump administration's active and potentially violent threat to the foundations of American democracy. The nation stands at a critical juncture, and the future of its democratic institutions hangs in the balance.

Tags: Los Angeles protest, Trump deportation, Lauren Tomasi, Rubber bullets, Journalist shot, LAPD, ICE raids, National Guard, Nick Stern, US protests, Political unrest, Authoritarianism, Trump administration, Democracy in crisis

Updated: June 9, 2025 (Corrected information about Rodney King)

Source: https://theconversation.com/trump-has-long-speculated-about-using-force-against-his-own-people-now-he-has-the-pretext-to-do-so-258471