Protests against Trump are spreading: chaos in US cities!

Protests against Trump are spreading: chaos in US cities!

Protests against US President Donald Trump's controversial migration policy are increasing in the United States. Since Friday, June 9, 2025, demonstrations have been underway in several cities, starting in Los Angeles, which was sparked by immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) raids. The protests are organized by various groups, including labor unions and the 50501 movement, and have now spread to cities such as San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. Over 150 people were arrested in San Francisco over the weekend.

On Sunday, June 11, 2025, the situation in Los Angeles escalated significantly. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops, which further inflamed the situation. Amid the unrest, police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets, resulting in five police officers being injured and around 150 arrests. The demonstrators, estimated by Mayor Karen Bass to number several thousand, took to the streets and blocked highways, among other things. Security forces were attacked with bottles and stones.

Reactions and escalation of violence

Donald Trump doubled troop deployments to 4,000 and ordered 700 Marines to Los Angeles. Although these forces are deployed to secure federal buildings, they are not directed directly against the demonstrators. Trump described Newsom and Mayor Bass as irresponsible and compared the situation to his previous experiences with wildfires, in which he criticized Democratic failures.

In addition, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth agreed that the order to nationalize the National Guard could also be implemented in other places if police officers were threatened. Government supporters appear to show clear support for the tough approach in polls. However, there is growing concern about the false imprisonment of well-integrated migrants, further polarizing social sentiment.

Criticism from different sides

The White House spokeswoman described the protesters in Los Angeles as “left-wing radicals” and “illegal criminals.” However, among the critics there are also voices from within the Democratic Party, such as Senator John Fetterman, who view the deployment of federal troops as unnecessary. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he would deploy the National Guard to maintain order during protests against ICE. In Philadelphia, union members protested the arrest of a union leader, further inflaming tensions.

In addition, Trump threatened to use the Insurrection Act of 1807 to address the situation if necessary, which allows him to use regular troops domestically in the event of unrest. This would, for example, allow him to mobilize soldiers in other cities, increasing the risk of a major conflict.

In conclusion, the protests against Trump's migration policies and the raids by ICE continue to gain momentum. According to reports, there are already plans for nationwide protests to take place in over 1,800 cities. This movement, known as the “No Kings Nation Wide Day of Defiance,” could further increase tensions between the government and citizens.

For more information about the ongoing protests, visit articles from Vienna.at, Frankfurter Rundschau and ZDF today.