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The ‘No Kings’ Protests Were A Disaster

The 'No Kings' Protests Were A Disaster

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A Democrat lawmaker in North Carolina is facing blowback over a photo she posted to social media depicting a beheaded President Donald Trump.
State Rep. Julie von Haefen published a video on X over the weekend showing a number of images from a &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protest in Raleigh, including one of a woman holding up a sign with a guillotine and a message that read, &#8220;In these difficult times some cuts may be necessary.&#8221; On one end hung what appeared to be Trump&#8217;s head with a powdered wig. A man&#8217;s head with a swastika emblazoned on the forehead hung from the other side.
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Wow this is sick. North Carolina State Rep Julie von Haefen (D) posted a photo from the “no kings” protest which calls for Trump to be beheaded‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/FBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBI</a> <a href="https://t.co/ETn7O6e8cu">pic.twitter.com/ETn7O6e8cu</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934099871557976378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Libs of TikTok account on X shared a screen grab of the violent image, calling it <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934099871557976378" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;sick&#8221;</a> and tagging the FBI. Von Haefen <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934269780397338734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deleted</a> her X account and Libs of TikTok noted the lawmaker reposted her video on Facebook, but edited to remove the execution-themed photo.
Von Haefen later released a statement.
&#8220;Yesterday, I posted a video on social media containing crowd photos from the No Kings protest in Raleigh. One of the images of a protestor holding a sign was inappropriate, and I later edited the video to remove the photo,&#8221; she said on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/juliefornc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>.
Von Haefen also made reference to the shootings in Minnesota in which House Democrat leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and another lawmaker and his wife were injured. A suspect, Vance Boelter, has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/authorities-catch-suspected-minnesota-assassin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apprehended</a> by authorities and could face the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/16/us/minnesota-shootings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death penalty</a> if convicted on murder charges.
&#8220;Let me be clear: I condemn political violence in all forms,&#8221; von Haefen claimed. &#8220;My focus remains on bringing people together and fighting for the values that matter to North Carolinians. Like so many, I was horrified by the violence in Minnesota. There is no place for that kind of extremism in our democracy, no matter the target, no matter the party.&#8221;
Still, a number of Republican lawmakers expressed their disgust with von Haefen.
&#8220;Political violence is not okay — the Left should stop encouraging it,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RepMarkHarrisNC/status/1934329543206093034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC).
North Carolina&#8217;s Speaker of the House Destin Hall said in a <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934371481313808412" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that he was &#8220;examining next steps with our legislative attorneys to ensure this behavior does not continue&#8221; in response to von Haefen&#8217;s actions.
&#8220;On the same weekend that a gunman in Minnesota targeted state lawmakers in an act of political violence, and after two attempted assassinations of President Trump within the past year, Representative von Haefen (D-Wake) shared an image of a ‘protest sign’ that glorifies violence against her political opponents- including President Donald Trump,&#8221; Hall said. &#8220;Her disgraceful behavior fails to meet the standards expected from House members and sets a dangerous precedent in an already volatile political climate.&#8221;
The North Carolina GOP <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1934643461090627700" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for von Haefen to <a href="https://x.com/NCGOP/status/1934277389812724165" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resign</a>.
Back in 2017, comedian Kathy Griffin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/election-night-kathy-griffin-retweets-infamous-pic-of-her-with-trumps-severed-head" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posed</a> for a photo while she held a mock severed Trump head, a move that led to a firestorm of criticism.

State Representative Julie Von Haefen

‘Sick’: Democrat Under Fire Over Beheaded Trump Photo

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North Carolina

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U.S.

“No Kings” protests cause chaos as the Army celebrates its 250th anniversary, a Minnesota manhunt concludes following a political assassination, and President Donald Trump ups the pressure on Iran.
It’s Monday, June 16, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
 
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If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2>&#8220;Mostly Peaceful&#8221; Protests And A Birthday Parade</h2>
<div id="attachment_934735" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-934735" class="size-large wp-image-934735" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2219848297-864x576.jpg" alt="SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 11: Protestors gather in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal building during a protest against federal immigration arrests on June 11, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Protests against ICE raids have spread to cities across the nation after beginning in Los Angeles last weekend. (Photo by Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2219848297-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2219848297-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2219848297-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-2219848297.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images</div>
Topline: As President Trump presides over the celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary – “No Kings” protests erupt in violence.
Multiple rioters were arrested near Portland’s ICE facility over the weekend after police declared that a planned protest had devolved into a riot. The chaos in Portland, which left several officers injured, was part of a wave of anti-Trump protests across the country and coincided with Trump&#8217;s celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday.
The Portland &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protest included <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/multiple-arrests-near-portland-ice-building-after-police-declare-riot">tens of thousands of people</a>. While city officials touted the event as a &#8220;large-scale free speech gathering,” eventually the focus became on an ICE facility. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/officers-injured-portland-rioters-breach-ice-building-explosives-rocks">told Fox News Digital</a> that the rioters broke glass and forcibly entered the building. During the attack, they threw rocks and launched fireworks and smoke grenades at federal law enforcement. Officials say at least four officers were injured.  Four rioters were initially arrested for what the Portland Police Bureau stressed was “violent activity,” and they said in a press conference early Sunday that more could be rounded up.
We saw yet <a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-trump-philadelphia-los-angeles-immigration-raids-a3b67d23733cd060f8d01aef1e391dbf">more violence</a> in Los Angeles, which has become the epicenter of these protests and riots. Law enforcement used tear gas and other crowd-control munitions to clear out rioters over the weekend. Then there was Salt Lake City, where a “No Kings” protest featured a shooting. Police said Sunday that three people were taken into custody, including the shooting suspect, and that the motive was still being investigated.
These “No Kings” demonstrations were planned nationwide in response to Trump holding that massive celebration of the U.S. Army. The military parade marked the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Army, which came a year before the Declaration of Independence. It also happened to coincide with Trump’s 79th birthday.
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<h2>Assassination Shakes Minnesota</h2>
<div id="attachment_934575" style="width: 840px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-934575" class="size-full wp-image-934575" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-14-at-10.47.41-AM.png" alt="" width="830" height="506" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-14-at-10.47.41-AM.png 830w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-14-at-10.47.41-AM-300x183.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-14-at-10.47.41-AM-768x468.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px" />MN State Senate//Melissa Horton via Facebook</div>
Topline: The assassin suspected of killing a Minnesota state lawmaker and critically injuring another was captured by authorities late Sunday night after a two-day search.
The nation was rocked over the weekend after a prominent Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were gunned down in an apparent politically motivated assassination. Early Saturday morning, Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were left in critical condition after being shot inside their home. Police, fearing the crime was politically motivated, proactively checked the homes of several other lawmakers, including Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the State House. When officers arrived, they found what appeared to be a police SUV with flashing blue lights in the driveway, and a man dressed as a cop exiting the house. That man immediately opened fire on police before fleeing the scene on foot. When officers searched the home, they found Hortman and her husband dead. 
Footage from a home security system shows a man dressed as an officer approaching the front door, wearing a life-like rubber mask.
Immediately after the shootings, police issued a shelter-in-place order for a three-mile radius surrounding the home, but the killer was able to flee the area on foot and make it to another car he owned. Authorities quickly identified 57-year-old Vance Boelter as the suspect, a Minnesotan with no past criminal history. While Boelter escaped the crime scene, by Sunday afternoon, police had located his second vehicle 50 miles southwest of Minneapolis in Sibley County. By 10 pm Sunday, he was in custody after being caught hiding out in a patch of woods. 
Police say a manifesto was found in Boelter’s car, but they have not released it to the public, although they’re confident this was a politically motivated attack. Authorities say a list of potential targets was also found in Boelter’s car — it reportedly included a number of prominent Democrats, along with abortion providers in the state. The suspect’s roommate told reporters he believed Boelter voted for Trump, but was unaware of his views on state politics. 
 Boelter also had ties to Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who appointed him to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board back in 2019. Previous Democrat Governor Mark Dayton had appointed Boelter to the same position in 2016.
<h2>Iran vs Israel: Dueling Airstrikes</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-934853" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/blogcover-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/blogcover-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/blogcover-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/blogcover-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/blogcover.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></div>
Topline: As Israel and Iran trade blows, President Trump ratchets up the pressure on Tehran.
Things have changed rapidly since Israel launched its attack on Iran on Thursday, and the situation will likely keep changing fast. Since launching Operation Rising Lion, Israelis have carried out more than 700 different strikes against nuclear sites, military, and leaders of the Iranian regime. In retaliation, Iran has fired salvos of drones and missiles at Israeli population centers.
“These missiles have been coming in by the dozen over the last couple of nights,” Jonathan Schanzer, the executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who has been sheltering in place in a bomb shelter inside Jerusalem, told The Daily Wire. “Last night there were a couple of direct hits, destroying buildings, destroying a full half of one building or even a half of a city block in one case. I think, you know, what we&#8217;re looking at is a potential war of attrition if things go the way that Iran would like them to go. The regime understands that there&#8217;s a finite number of missile defense interceptors that the Israelis can use. And they have a lot of ballistic missiles… The one kind of wrinkle that I&#8217;m watching right now is that the US is helping to defend the skies over Israel, and it appears that a number of Western countries may also be deploying assets to the region as well.”
American involvement in the broader conflict is uncertain. In the opening hours after the first Israeli airstrikes, officials from the Trump administration denied any American involvement in the operation. However,  they appear to have been given prior warning. 
Many of Israel’s key military platforms – including the F-16 and F-35 fighters, both of which have featured prominently in its air war against Iran – are American-made, and the two countries are close allies.
“I think there&#8217;s also a high degree of intelligence sharing,” Schanzer told The Daily Wire. “The fact that the Israelis attacked on day 61 after Donald Trump&#8217;s 60-day deadline does suggest that there was some degree of coordination here. The big question that I think everyone is asking right now is whether the United States will get involved.”
Some of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including an underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, appear to be hardened against conventional attacks, although larger “bunker buster” bombs in the American inventory could break through their defenses. Israel lacks an equivalent stockpile and has asked America to join its air campaign.
Publicly, President Trump continues to call for negotiations with Iran and has pressured Tehran to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for peace. “Iran and Israel should make a deal and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make,” the president wrote on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114687664442020232">Truth Social</a> on Saturday. “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings [are] now taking place.”

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Morning Brief: Minnesota Gunman Captured & ‘No Kings Riots’

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Four suspected illegal immigrants, referred to as &#8220;public safety threats,&#8221; escaped from federal authorities at a building used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Newark, New Jersey, as chaotic scenes erupted outside the facility on Thursday.
The escapees, identified as two Honduran and two Colombian nationals by the Department of Homeland Security, broke through a wall and escaped from the Delaney Hall detention center, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-center-newark-new-jersey-delaney-hall-cf1e9043626136c46b5b67aeda2e9183">reported</a>. Detainees being held inside Delaney Hall reportedly became enraged over delayed meals, and protesters showed up at the detention center, pushing against the gates and attempting to block vehicles from passing through.
Delaney Hall is the same facility where Newark Democratic Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newark-mayor-arrested-after-dem-reps-storm-new-jersey-ice-facility-charge-past-security-officers">Ras Baraka</a>, along with Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-indicted-over-ice-facility-clash-faces-up-to-17-years-in-prison">LaMonica McIver</a> (D-NJ), were arrested during altercations with law enforcement after they attempted to storm into the building last month.
An attorney representing one of the suspected illegal immigrants being detained at Delaney Hall told the AP that the situation became violent on Thursday after meals for the detainees arrived hours later than normal.
“Apparently the guards lost control of them,” the attorney, Mustafa Cetin, said. “And they started to, you know, create a disturbance.”
On Friday, the DHS <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/13/law-enforcement-offers-10000-reward-information-leading-arrest-4-dangerous-criminal">said</a> it is offering $10,000 for information leading to the apprehension of the escapees, identified as Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes and Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez — both Honduran men — and Colombian men Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada and Andres Pineda-Mogollon. Homeland Security added that it has brought in &#8220;additional law enforcement partners&#8221; as they continue to search for the escapees.
DHS pushed back against reports claiming that an &#8220;uprising&#8221; was taking place at the detention facility.
&#8220;On June 12, four criminal illegal aliens breached security at Delaney Hall. Contrary to current reporting, there has been no widespread unrest at the Delaney Hall Detention facility,&#8221; Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/13/law-enforcement-offers-10000-reward-information-leading-arrest-4-dangerous-criminal">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;This privately held facility remains dedicated to providing high-quality services, including include around-the-clock access to medical care, in-person and virtual legal and family visitation, general and legal library access, translation services, dietician-approved meals, religious and specialty diets, recreational amenities, and opportunities to practice their religious beliefs.&#8221;
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Bautista-Reyes was arrested by the Wayne Township, New Jersey, Police Department in May on charges of aggravated assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, terroristic threats, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. He crossed the border illegally in 2021, according to the DHS. Sandoval-Lopez, who entered the United States illegally in 2019, was arrested by the New Jersey Passaic Police Department last October for unlawful possession of a handgun. He was arrested again in February for aggravated assault.
Castaneda-Lozada, who has been living in the country illegally since 2022, was arrested in May by the New Jersey Hammonton Police Department for burglary, theft, and conspiracy to commit burglary. Pineda-Mogollon, who the DHS says overstayed a tourist visa after entering the country in 2023, was nabbed by the New York City Police Department in April for petit larceny. He was arrested again in May by the Union, New Jersey, Police Department for residential burglary, conspiracy to commit residential burglary, and possession of burglary tools.
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SCOOP: The <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a> can report that these are the four ICE detainees who escaped from the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark yesterday. A $10,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can help track them down.
Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes An illegal alien from Honduras… <a href="https://t.co/u6MNhmVaNs">pic.twitter.com/u6MNhmVaNs</a>
&mdash; Jennie Taer 🎗️ (@JennieSTaer) <a href="https://twitter.com/JennieSTaer/status/1933586157066973686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Delaney Hall, which is operated by the GEO Group, a private company, has been the center of protests since last month, as Democrats and activists <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/four-detainees-newark-ice-facility-are-missing-senior-officials-say-rcna212893">claim</a> that detainees at the 1,000-bed facility are subject to poor treatment. Democrats, such as Mayor Baraka, have attempted to gain entry to the facility, arguing that it “lacks sufficient oversight of every basic detail — including local zoning laws and fundamental constitutional rights.&#8221;

Delaney Hall protests

Multiple Illegal Immigrants Escape Custody As Protesters Surround ICE Detention Facility

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Illegal Immigration

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Trump Administration

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday night that he would deploy the National Guard &#8220;across the state&#8221; as anti-ICE protests hit major cities.
Protests against President Donald Trump&#8217;s illegal immigration crackdown started earlier this week in <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-joins-anti-ice-protests-immigration-crackdown-intensifies">Dallas</a> and <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/live-blog-ice-protest-at-texas-capitol/">Austin</a>, and more demonstrations are planned for San Antonio on Wednesday and Saturday. In a <a href="https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1932656855764861152">post</a> on X, Abbott said he was mobilizing the National Guard as a precautionary measure &#8220;to ensure peace &amp; order.&#8221;
&#8220;Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal &amp; will lead to arrest,&#8221; the governor added. &#8220;@TexasGuard will use every tool &amp; strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.&#8221;
In Austin, the state&#8217;s capital, police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who were ignoring warnings to clear out of the street, KXAN Austin <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/live-blog-ice-protest-at-texas-capitol/">reported</a>. Officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department arrested more than a dozen people during the protest Monday night, according to Abbott. During the demonstration, a federal building where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holds detainees was vandalized with messages reading, “ICE NEEDS 2 SURRENDER &amp; RELEASE THE HOSTAGES” and “MODERN DAY SLAVERY DISGUISED AS CRIMINAL REFORM.”
Six men arrested during the Austin demonstration were charged with felony criminal mischief, resisting arrest, among other offenses, according to the <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/abbott-deploys-national-guard-san-antonio-protests-20371032.php">San Antonio Express-News</a>.
&#8220;Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested,&#8221; Abbott <a href="https://x.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1932304416435998771">wrote</a> on social media early Tuesday morning, adding, &#8220;FAFO,&#8221; the acronym for &#8220;F*** Around and Find Out.&#8221;
The protest in Dallas on Monday turned &#8220;tense&#8221; as some demonstrators clashed with police officers, The Dallas Morning News <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/06/09/protestors-in-dallas-rally-to-show-solidarity-with-la-demonstrators-amid-ice-crackdowns/">reported</a>. After sunset, authorities deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd and appeared to make some arrests.
Texas National Guard troops will be on &#8220;standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned in case they are needed,&#8221; according to Abbott&#8217;s office. Demonstrations, organized by a group called &#8220;No Kings&#8221; are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-issues-warning-to-any-protester-that-wants-to-come-out-during-d-c-military-parade">planned</a> for cities in all 50 states on Saturday as the U.S. Army will hold a massive parade in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the president&#8217;s birthday, with Trump in attendance.
Protests, some of which have turned into <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anti-ice-riots-break-out-in-san-francisco-as-more-troops-deploy-to-l-a">riots</a>, have already popped up in cities across the country after anti-ICE rioters attacked law enforcement officers and damaged businesses and public property in Los Angeles last weekend. President Trump deployed the National Guard to L.A. on Saturday and then sent in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a">reinforcements</a> days later, including 700 Marines, as he blasted Democrat officials, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
California then sued the Trump administration over the National Guard deployment, arguing that Trump infringed on Newsom&#8217;s power. Trump has defended his decision, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Sends+Another+2%2C000+National+Guard+Troops+To+L.A.">claiming</a> that L.A. would be &#8220;burning to the ground&#8221; without his action.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott

Greg Abbott To Deploy National Guard Amid Texas Anti-ICE Protests

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Dallas

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Texas

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said on Tuesday that she believes President Donald Trump&#8217;s troop <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployment</a> in response to the violent anti-ICE protests around Los Angeles is worthy of impeachment.
In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3VMJlLi9nw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a> on Capitol Hill, a reporter asked whether the descriptors that Democrats have applied to Trump&#8217;s actions — specifically: &#8220;lawlessness, and unconstitutional, and a violation of human rights&#8221; — would &#8220;rise to the level of impeachment&#8221; and whether they are &#8220;impeachable offenses.&#8221;
Clarke responded in the affirmative.
&#8220;Well, you know, I believe it is. I definitely believe it is,&#8221; the influential Democrat said, &#8220;but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.&#8221;
The president invoked the ire of Democrats for sending National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles amid violent anti-ICE protests, leading to a legal standoff with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-sues-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-says-president-manufactured-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> the Trump administration and is trying to <a href="https://x.com/yashar/status/1932506908461838759" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stop</a> the deployment.
&#8220;Look, if we didn’t get involved, right now, Los Angeles would be burning &#8230; Los Angeles right now would be on fire. And we have it in great shape. I am not playing around,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1932477437549425074" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
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When asked about Clarke&#8217;s view on impeachment, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) indicated his party is not ready to go there.
“I&#8217;ve said before, from this podium, that House Democrats aren’t focused on impeachment today,” Aguilar <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59sURASZvos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during another press conference. &#8220;We are focused on holding the president and House Republicans accountable for the policies that attack the basic needs, like health care and food assistance.&#8221;
Some Democrats have tried <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rejected-by-his-own-party-democrat-backs-down-on-forcing-trump-impeachment-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing impeachment</a> during this session of Congress, accusing Trump of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-democrat-moves-to-impeach-trump-over-dastardly-deeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;dastardly deeds&#8221;</a> and other alleged offenses, but they have all fizzled out as the Republicans who are largely aligned with the president control the House.
But Aguilar went on to suggest an inquiry could be a consideration in the future — if Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) leads her party to seize back the House with the midterm elections in 2026.
&#8220;There will be plenty of time, when Suzan DelBene guides us to the majority, for us to exercise oversight where we can ask some very difficult questions [about] the policies that the administration is going currently, but right now that isn&#8217;t our focus,&#8221; Aguilar said.

Rep. Yvette Clarke

Black Caucus Head Wants To Impeach Trump For Sending Troops To Los Angeles

Congress

Impeachment

Marines

National Guard

U.S. House of Representatives

As Washington, D.C., prepares for the June 14 military parade to celebrate the Army&#8217;s 250th birthday, President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that anyone who wants to protest the event &#8220;will be met with very big force.&#8221;
The parade, which also falls on Trump&#8217;s 79th birthday, will feature tanks, helicopters, and thousands of troops marching in uniforms that represent periods going all the way back to the Revolutionary War, NBC Washington <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trumps-military-parade-in-dc-heres-what-to-know/3930168/#:~:text=A%20massive%20military%20parade%20in,to%20have%20a%20great%20celebration.%22">reported</a>. Nationwide protests, including in cities surrounding D.C., are planned for Saturday to counter the Army parade, according to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/07/no-kings-protest-trump-military-parade-june-14">Axios</a>.
Going by the name &#8220;No Kings,&#8221; the demonstration organizers hope to attract protesters in 1,500 cities across the country and all 50 states. However, no &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protest is planned for D.C., as the organizers said they want to &#8220;create contrast, not conflict.&#8221;
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, &#8220;We&#8217;re going to be celebrating big on Saturday.&#8221;
&#8220;And if there&#8217;s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,&#8221; Trump said, adding, &#8220;And I haven&#8217;t even heard about a protest, but you know, [these are] people who hate our country, but they will be met with very heavy force.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on this weekend&#39;s Army 250 Celebration in D.C.: &quot;We&#39;re going to be celebrating big on Saturday — and if there&#39;s any protester that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/b1rCFuJI9x">pic.twitter.com/b1rCFuJI9x</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932480100026511650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Trump&#8217;s comments on the upcoming military parade come after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a">deployed</a> thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles in response to anti-ICE riots that started over the weekend. The president also said on Tuesday that his actions to mobilize the military to L.A. kept the city from &#8220;burning to the ground.&#8221;
California <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-sues-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-says-president-manufactured-crisis">sued</a> Trump over his move to send in the National Guard, arguing that it infringed on Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom&#8217;s power and that Trump&#8217;s move was &#8220;a manufactured crisis.&#8221; During his gaggle with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump defended his decision, saying he didn&#8217;t want to repeat the approach he took during the riots in the summer of 2020, which broke out following the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been here before, and I went right by every rule. And I waited for governors to say, &#8216;Send in the National Guard.&#8217; They wouldn&#8217;t do it, they just wouldn&#8217;t do it, and it kept going on and on. It got worse and worse, and in Minneapolis, that city was burning down.&#8221;
&#8220;I said to myself, &#8216;If that stuff happens again, we&#8217;ve got to make faster decisions,'&#8221; the president added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;I&#39;ve been here before and I went right by every rule,&quot; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on deploying the National Guard.
&quot;I waited for governors to say, &#39;Send in the National Guard&#39;. They wouldn&#39;t do it &#8230; I said to myself, &#39;If that stuff happens again, we&#39;ve got to make faster decisions.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/bQAaIkbSCn">pic.twitter.com/bQAaIkbSCn</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932478660046356893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Trump Issues Warning To ‘Any Protester That Wants To Come Out’ During D.C. Military Parade

Executive

Military

Oval Office

Washington D.C.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply criticized Minnesota Democratic Governor and failed vice president candidate Tim Walz for his handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots while defending the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployment</a> of National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to protect against violent anti-ICE protests.
In a hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) noted how both she and Hegseth are from Minnesota and claimed President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles was “premature and escalatory,&#8221; insisting the situation in 2020 was &#8220;more volatile&#8221; when Walz called in the National Guard. Hegseth fired back after the congresswoman got to asking how the deployment in L.A. affected the defense budget and duties.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🔥 WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> calmly dismantles Minnesota Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/BettyMcCollum04?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BettyMcCollum04</a> when she tries to grill him on the cost of deploying National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles:
&#8220;I recall 2020 quite well when <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovTimWalz</a> abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground&#8230;… <a href="https://t.co/tltKWcgBEQ">pic.twitter.com/tltKWcgBEQ</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932444502565744888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;You are right, we are both originally from Minnesota. Which is why I recall 2020 quite well, when Governor Walz abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground — and also allowed five days of chaos to occur inside the streets of Minneapolis,&#8221; Hegseth said.
Hegseth took a swipe at California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-sues-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-says-president-manufactured-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> Trump, Hegseth, and the Department of Defense <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/09/governor-newsom-suing-president-trump-and-department-of-defense-for-illegal-takeover-of-calguard-unit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over</a> the National Guard deployment in Los Angeles because he did not request it.
&#8220;The police precinct, ma&#8217;am, was abandoned and burned to the ground. And because of that, the National Guard was eventually — far too late — mobilized. And President Trump recognizes a situation like that improperly handled by a governor — like it was by Governor Walz — if it gets out of control, is a bad situation for the citizens of any location,&#8221; Hegseth said.
He added, &#8220;So in Los Angeles, we believe that ICE, which is a federal law enforcement agency, has the right to safely conduct operations in any state and any jurisdiction in the country, especially after 21 million illegals have crossed into our country in the previous administration. ICE ought to be able to do its job whether it&#8217;s Minneapolis or Los Angeles.&#8221;
McCollum tried stopping Hegseth, complaining that she had limited time and wanted to keep the focus on the budget — even though she had been the one to bring up the priority of the troop deployment to Los Angeles and Walz&#8217;s response to the Minneapolis riots.
&#8220;You asked about the situation in Los Angeles, and we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;And we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties, because we ought [to] be able to enforce immigration law in this country, unlike Governor Walz did in 2020.&#8221;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Hegseth Blasts Tim Walz For Mobilizing National Guard ‘Far Too Late’ During Minneapolis Riot Failure

Department of Defense

Minneapolis

Pete Hegseth

Tim Walz

While global attention has remained fixed on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the threat they pose to international peace, a nationwide strike by tens of thousands of Iranian truck drivers — launched around May 21, 2025 — has signaled deeper unrest brewing inside the country.
Far from faltering under the weight of violent reprisals, judicial intimidation, and empty promises from the clerical regime, the protests swelled, spreading to 140 cities across 30 provinces and inspiring solidarity across diverse sectors. This burgeoning unrest, now encompassing bakers, retirees, teachers, oil workers, nurses, women, and activists, signals a profound challenge to the Islamic Republic’s authority. With its echoes of past uprisings and its potential to galvanize a broader pro-democracy movement, the current wave of labor protests demands urgent international attention and support to amplify the Iranian people’s aspirations for a free and representative government.
The truckers’ strike, which has paralyzed key transit highways, reflects deep-seated grievances rooted in the regime’s economic mismanagement and disregard for its citizens’ livelihoods. The catalyst for this unprecedented action was the government’s plan to restructure diesel subsidies under the guise of combating smuggling — a policy that would devastate truckers’ already precarious incomes. This move mirrors the 2019 decision to hike gasoline prices, which ignited protests in over 200 cities and laid bare the regime’s prioritization of its own power over the needs of ordinary Iranians. That uprising saw the regime unleash lethal force, killing approximately 1,500 protesters in a matter of days, a brutal reminder of its willingness to suppress dissent at all costs.
<div id="attachment_931999" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-931999" class="wp-image-931999 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1782800695-768x576.jpg" alt="11/16/2019 Shiraz, Iran. Protest after authorities raised gasoline prices, across all around the country of Iran. Demonstrators angered by a 200% increase in government-set gasoline prices blocked traffic in major cities and occasionally clashed with police after a night of demonstrations punctuated by gunfire. (Photo by Anonymous / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by ANONYMOUS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1782800695-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1782800695-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1782800695.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />11/16/2019 Shiraz, Iran. Protest after authorities raised gasoline prices, across all around the country of Iran. ANONYMOUS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images</div>
Yet, the current protests reveal a regime wary of repeating such overt bloodshed. While arrests have been reported in cities like Isfahan, Hormozgan, Fars, Kermanshah, Ardabil, and Khuzestan, and the IRGC has deployed convoys to break the strike, there have been few reports of fatalities thus far. This restraint may reflect the regime’s fear of domestic and international backlash or uncertainty about the repressive capacity of institutions like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, as the protests grow — bolstered by statements of solidarity from diverse groups, including child rights advocates and anti-execution activists — the likelihood of escalation looms. The regime’s threats, which vowed to seize fuel cards and impound vehicles, underscore its desperation to quash the movement.
The scope of these protests recalls the 2019 uprising and the even more seismic unrest of September 2022, sparked by the morality police’s killing of Mahsa Amini for allegedly improper hijab-wearing. That movement, widely regarded as the greatest challenge to the regime since the 1979 revolution, saw millions demand systemic change. Despite its suppression, which claimed hundreds of lives, the 2022 uprising galvanized a network of “Resistance Units” affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48433">leading pro-democracy</a> opposition group. These units, undeterred by the regime’s crackdowns, have continued to organize and are likely a driving force behind the current labor protests. The strike’s expansion to new cities coupled with its cross-sectoral support, suggests a movement on the cusp of transforming into a nationwide pro-democracy uprising.
The regime’s response has been a mix of coercion and hollow promises. Officials like Reza Rostami and parliamentary leaders have pledged to review freight rates, insurance, and fuel issues by June 21, 2025, but truckers have rejected these overtures as ploys to fracture their resolve. Meanwhile, repressive measures intensify: the IRGC has arrested individuals filming strikes in Bandar Imam, and Yazd’s transport authorities have threatened to suspend services for non-compliant drivers. Such tactics reveal a regime acutely aware of the strike’s threat to Iran’s road-based supply chain, which, as the state-run Donya-ye-Eqtesad noted on May 29, 2025, is “the lifeblood of production” in an economy where over 90% of goods are transported by road.
This moment is a clarion call for the international community to act decisively. The 2022 uprising was a missed opportunity, as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and others criticized Western democracies for their tepid response. Explicit public support from the United States, Britain, and the European Union, coupled with maximal economic and diplomatic pressure on the regime, could have tipped the scales toward regime change. Today, the same opportunity beckons. The Iranian people, led by workers and bolstered by the MEK’s Resistance Units, are voicing a universal demand for a government that rules by consent and serves its citizens’ needs. The international community must not repeat past mistakes. By recognizing the Iranian people’s right to resist tyranny and by amplifying their call for democracy, global leaders can empower this movement to achieve a historic victory — a free, democratic Iran that reflects the aspirations of its entire population.
* * *
Dr. Kazem Kazerounian, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut and Dean of the College of Engineering from 2012 to 2024, is an expert on Iran and the Middle East. He has contributed widely through scholarly articles, invited talks, and media interviews on regional affairs and the democratic movement in Iran.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>

Truck waiting to cross from Turkey into Iran at border to Bazargan.

From Fuel To Freedom: Iranian Truckers Lead Wave Of Labor Strikes In Islamic Republic

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Democracy

Iran Nuclear Deal

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Middle East

TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-IMMIGRATION

LA Descends Into Chaos As Mexican Rioters Wage War On America

Gavin Newsom

Karen Bass

Maxine Waters

Mexico

Former Vice President Kamala Harris declared on Sunday that she is supporting the anti-ICE protests in and around Los Angeles, claiming the demonstrations have been &#8220;overwhelmingly peaceful&#8221; despite violent clashes with federal authorities.
Harris, who has a <a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/real-estate/a33825054/kamala-harris-homes-real-estate-photos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">home</a> in Los Angeles and has been <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/01/kamala-harris-california-governor-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mulling</a> a run for California governor, said in a <a href="https://x.com/KamalaHarris/status/1931856677881667634" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that she is &#8220;appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city.&#8221; But instead of focusing on how troublemakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cory-booker-spins-la-riots-as-peaceful-while-feds-dodge-concrete-blocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurled</a> rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles, Harris took the opportunity to criticize her 2024 election opponent, President Donald Trump.
&#8220;Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos. In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration&#8217;s cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;This Administration&#8217;s actions are not about public safety — they&#8217;re about stoking fear. Fear of a community demanding dignity and due process.&#8221;
Harris extolled protesting as &#8220;a powerful tool — essential in the fight for justice&#8221; without acknowledging the rioting that prompted Trump to deploy the National Guard.
&#8220;And as the LAPD, Mayor, and Governor have noted, demonstrations in defense of our immigrant neighbors have been overwhelmingly peaceful,&#8221; Harris said. &#8220;I continue to support the millions of Americans who are standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms.&#8221;
Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have vociferously opposed Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defense-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployment</a> of the National Guard and touted peaceful demonstrations. These Democrats also faced blowback from Trump and others for failing to stop the unrest.
However, Newsom and Bass took time to relay <a href="https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/1931825945146703982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">messages</a> discouraging <a href="https://x.com/MayorOfLA/status/1931825605101920676" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acts</a> of violence, destruction, and vandalism. Harris did no such thing and received criticism for it.
&#8220;No surprise that the most incompetent Vice President in history stands with the illegal alien rioters,&#8221; Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) <a href="https://x.com/TomCottonAR/status/1931860564839395709" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quipped</a> in a post on X.
&#8220;We all know you support lawless, violent, illegal alien rioters. That’s why you lost so badly in November. Back to irrelevancy you go!&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/ATJackson47/status/1931866516229959699" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha <a href="https://x.com/JoeConchaTV/status/1931860240028270775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed</a>, &#8220;This statement tells us 2024 Kamala wasn’t real and she was always 2019 Kamala all along on illegal immigration.&#8221;
Police have said several people have already been <a href="https://abc7.com/live-updates/tensions-flare-downtown-la-anti-ice-protesters-clash-agents-live-updates/16692645/entry/16696993/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in the protests that erupted as federal agents began to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gang-members-sex-offenders-and-more-heres-who-ice-actually-picked-up-during-la-raids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">detain and deport</a> a number of the dangerous criminal aliens who were the targets of raids throughout the Los Angeles area.
The FBI is <a href="https://x.com/FBILosAngeles/status/1931824873728254090" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offering</a> a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, injuring a federal officer, and damaging government vehicles.
&#8220;Hit a cop, you’re going to jail … doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won’t back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1931522027719995558" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> FBI Director Kash Patel.
The bedlam continued on Sunday as protesters <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/anti-ice-protesters-swarm-101-freeway-500-u-s-marines-stand-prepared-to-deploy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">swarmed</a> a freeway in Los Angeles and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h3jojqNfh0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set cars on fire</a> in the downtown area.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris

Kamala Backs LA Protests After Rioters Attack Federal Officers

Kamala Harris

The anti-ICE demonstrations in and around Los Angeles have been “peaceful,&#8221; Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) claimed on Sunday, despite clear evidence of violent clashes with federal authorities.
Booker seemed to take a page out of CNN&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-mocked-for-fiery-but-mostly-peaceful-protests-tv-chyron-shown-in-front-of-kenosha-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;mostly peaceful&#8221;</a> playbook from 2020 after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tom-homan-says-national-guard-moving-into-la-to-shut-down-anti-ice-riots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployed</a> the National Guard to Los Angeles over the weekend. Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114646378582957392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — both Democrats — for not being able to contain the chaos as videos and <a href="https://ktla.com/news/local-news/compton-ice-raid-protest-car-fire-national-guard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media</a> reports <a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documented</a> how demonstrators <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/riot-police-anti-ice-protesters-square-off-los-angeles-after-raids-2025-06-07/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hurled</a> rocks, concrete, and fireworks at federal officers and their vehicles.
&#8220;The reality is we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles,” Booker insisted during a &#8220;Meet the Press&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnZQdYB7ohg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> on NBC. &#8220;And again, any violence against police officers should not be accepted. Local authorities can handle that. But remember, a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Senator <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryBooker</a> thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are &#8220;peaceful.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/zdshuTeJdP">pic.twitter.com/zdshuTeJdP</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sharing a clip of Booker&#8217;s comments, the White House’s “Rapid Response” account on X <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931704892407562276" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fired back</a>.
Booker “thinks the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles — in which criminal illegals and violent mobs are hurling concrete projectiles at vehicles, lighting fires, and attacking federal law enforcement — are ‘peaceful,’” the account said.
Republican lawmakers who hit the talk show circuit on Sunday also dismissed the notion that the protests in Los Angeles should be characterized as nonviolent.
On CNN’s &#8220;State of the Union,&#8221; Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1931711731354448072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the demonstrators were &#8220;not just peaceful protesters,&#8221; contending the &#8220;riot&#8221; in Los Angeles was &#8220;not under control&#8221; as protesters were &#8220;throwing all types of objects at law enforcement.&#8221;
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), a military veteran, <a href="https://x.com/RepTonyGonzales/status/1931746619201827272" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voiced</a> support for Trump’s actions during a &#8220;Face the Nation&#8221; interview on CBS.
&#8220;It’s tragic to see what’s happening in LA,&#8221; Gonzales said. &#8220;I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to, but what we’re seeing in LA are not advocates. We’re seeing anarchists, and the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.&#8221;
During his NBC appearance, Booker took a swipe at Trump, quipping that the president &#8220;talking to anybody right now about responsive law enforcement to protect people is hypocritical at best&#8221; because of matters related to January 6. He also warned that Trump&#8217;s decision to deploy the National Guard without a request from Newsom would &#8220;only incite the situation and make things worse.&#8221;
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking on &#8220;Face the Nation,&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIzS-RfqICI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> the National Guard’s deployment to &#8220;provide security for operations and to make sure that we have peaceful protests.&#8221;

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