Donald Trump issues warning for protesters at his military parade

California Attorney General Rob Bonta shreds Donald Trump for his "endless desire to seize more power" amidst the brutal Los Angeles crackdowns and issues a dire warning about what's to come.

It doesn't matter what state you live in, you can't afford to ignore this message...

"That’s his end goal, to seize more power that he doesn’t have," Bonta said MSNBC. "That’s why he calls things emergencies that aren’t emergencies, why he calls things invasions that aren’t invasions. Because he wants to exercise authority that would only be triggered if there really were an invasion, an emergency, a rebellion when there’s not."

"The through-line is he’s hypocritical and he is unlawful in his endless desire to seize more power," Bonta added.

Trump's deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles bypassed the permission of California Governor Gavin Newsom, a blatantly illegal act. Trump insists that these escalations are designed to enforce "law and order" but he himself is a felon and adjudicated rapist. He couldn't care less about the law.

"It’s very clear what the president is doing. He wants a fight; he wants this to erupt," said Bonta.

Trump knows that the more he exercises state violence against his political enemies, in this case the brave men and women opposing his fascist ICE policies, the more excited his MAGA base will get.

"There’s probably nothing more he’d like to see than to see some violence provoked by the unnecessary deployment of military on American soil," said Bonta.

Donald Trump issues warning for protesters at his military parade

Donald Trump has issued a warning for anyone planning to protest at his birthday military parade on Saturday. Trump told reporters, during a briefing at the White House on Tuesday, that any demonstration at the parade "will be met with very heavy force." The president added that he hadn't heard about plans for protests at the event, but he appeared to expect some dissent on the day, adding, "these are people who hate our country."

Why It Matters

Trump's remarks followed days of unrest sparked by federal immigration raids in Los Angeles and a controversial decision to deploy 700 U.S. Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Southern California.

Trump defended the military deployments on Tuesday, declaring that without them, "Los Angeles would be burning right now."

What To Know

The president's comments came just hours before his scheduled departure for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he will continue festivities commemorating the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. The event also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday.

Set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, the military celebration will stretch six blocks down Constitution Avenue, cutting through the heart of the National Mall. Highlights include displaysof vintage and modern military equipment, aerial flyovers by warplanes and Blackhawks, and musical performances by country artists such as former Army infantryman Scotty Hasting and Noah Hicks.

The U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team and a fireworks show are also part of the day-long schedule.

While administration officials insist the gathering is solely to honor the Army's milestone, critics have pointed to the timing and spectacle as a political display aligned with Trump's image.

National Guard in the Streets

The buildup to the parade follows days of immigration-related protests in Los Angeles and other cities, which escalated after Trump ordered the deployment of 700 U.S. Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to the city.

Trump has defended the move as necessary to restore order.

"If we didn't attack this one very strongly, you'd have them all over the country," Trump said Tuesday. "If they do it [protest], they're going to be met with equal or greater force than we met right here," he added, referencing the L.A. unrest (user notes).

California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have sharply criticized the deployments. Newsom announced legal action against the federal government, accusing Trump of violating constitutional limits.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "If I hadn't 'SENT IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground right now—much like the 25,000 houses that burned to the ground in L.A. due to an incompetent governor and mayor."

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, posted on X (formerly Twitter): "The political leaders of California and Los Angeles are siding with the insurrectionist mobs fighting to dissolve America rather than with the heroes of ICE, who are fighting to save America."

California Governor Gavin Newsom, on X: "U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country—defending democracy. They are not political pawns. The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend."