President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are standing firm on the deployment of National Guardsmen and Marines to Los Angeles. This move comes despite significant pushback from Democrats and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Protests have erupted in Los Angeles and other cities nationwide in response to Trump's immigration policies.

During a visit to Fort Bragg on Tuesday, where they celebrated the Army's 250th birthday, Trump addressed the ongoing unrest. He claimed that the protests are fueled by paid "insurrectionists" and "criminal invaders". "Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third world lawlessness here at home, like is happening in California," Trump stated. He emphasized his commitment to maintaining order, declaring, "This anarchy will not stand."

In addition to discussing the protests, Trump announced plans to restore the original names of several military bases that had been renamed in 2023. This includes Fort Bragg, which was temporarily renamed Fort Liberty. Trump stated, "For a little breaking news, we are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill, and Fort Robert E. Lee." He expressed a sense of superstition about the names, saying, "We won a lot of battles out of those forts. It's no time to change."

As the military parade in Washington, D.C., approaches this weekend, Trump issued a warning to potential protesters. He stated, "For those people who want to protest, they're going to be met with very big force," suggesting that those who oppose the parade "hate our country."

The deployment of troops and the military parade have sparked a heated debate about the use of military force in domestic situations. Critics argue that the presence of military personnel in civilian areas could escalate tensions. However, Trump and Hegseth maintain that the actions are necessary to uphold law and order.