Egypt Daily News – President Donald Trump delivered a forceful speech at Fort Bragg, pledging to “liberate” Los Angeles as protests escalate in response to his administration’s immigration enforcement raids. Speaking to troops on the occasion of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, Trump described the protesters in Los Angeles as “animals” and likened them to a “foreign enemy,” defending the deployment of military forces to assist with maintaining order.
Closing his more than 50-minute address, Trump recalled his defiant rallying cry following a near-assassination attempt during last year’s campaign in Pennsylvania, urging the soldiers to “fight, fight, fight” and promising they would “win, win, win.” He lauded the troops as braver than himself and emphasized their critical role in overcoming the challenges ahead.
Legal Battle Over Military Use in California
Meanwhile, California has been engaged in a legal battle to block the Trump administration’s use of Marines and National Guard troops for law enforcement duties within the state. On Tuesday, a federal judge in San Francisco denied the state’s request for an immediate restraining order to halt the deployment, instead scheduling a hearing later in the week to consider a temporary restraining order.
Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer requested additional written arguments from both sides before ruling, despite California’s push for urgent relief without waiting for the federal government’s response. The Justice Department dismissed the state’s request as “legally meritless,” warning that an injunction could jeopardize the safety of Department of Homeland Security personnel and hinder federal operations.
Marines Stand Ready with Additional Training
Over 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, stationed at Twentynine Palms, California, have been activated to assist the National Guard in Los Angeles but remain on standby outside the city. Though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that all deployed units have been fully trained, these Marines are currently receiving further training focused on domestic riot control and the specific rules governing their use of force during civil operations.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith confirmed the battalion is prepared to respond once ordered by U.S. Northern Command. The Marines are also conducting mission planning, including logistical considerations such as evacuation routes, communications, and medical support.
All deployed troops, including the National Guard, have been briefed on strict standing orders for use of force, emphasizing de-escalation tactics and limiting force to the minimum necessary. Deadly force is authorized only in response to an immediate threat of death or serious injury, and warning shots are prohibited. Troops will be permitted to temporarily detain individuals only under specific circumstances when de-escalation has failed, before transferring custody to law enforcement.
Immigration Enforcement to Continue Amid Protests
President Trump reiterated his administration’s commitment to continuing aggressive immigration enforcement actions, warning that protests sparked by these operations would be met with “equal or greater force.” While most of Los Angeles continues normal activity, demonstrations have concentrated in parts of downtown.
When questioned about invoking the Insurrection Act to escalate military intervention, Trump responded cautiously, stating, “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it, we’ll see.” He also affirmed that National Guard troops would remain in the city “until there is no danger.”
The deployment and operations in Los Angeles are projected to cost the Department of Defense approximately $134 million, according to testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
