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FORT PRAGUE, North Carolina (AP) – President Donald Trump called Los Angeles protesters “animals” and “foreign enemies” in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended protesters against immigration law enforcement attacks and vowed to “liberate” the West Coast city.
In the most radical language of protests so far, Trump should ostensibly be used to acknowledge the 250th anniversary of the Army to condemn protesters while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election and attacking former President Joe Biden.
The Republican president, who sees the military as a key tool for domestic goals, uses the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy opposition from the National Guard and U.S. Marines to California’s democratic governor. Protesters blocked a major highway in Los Angeles over the weekend and opened fire in Los Angeles, but demonstrations in the 4 million city center were concentrated in several blocks downtown.
“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by foreign enemies. That’s what they look like,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Trump’s fierce remarks were because he opened up the possibility of invoking the Uprising Act, one of the president’s most extreme emergency powers. It authorizes him to deploy military forces within the United States to curb rebellion or domestic violence or, in some cases, enforce the law.
Trump cheered from the crowd, the presidential joke joking and was delighted by his campaign song and dance for the YMCA. However, some viewers were upset by some aspects of his speech.
Robin Boothe, who voted for Trump and worked on the base as an audiology assistant, said the speech was “classic Trump”. However, she also found it too partisan, especially his comments on Los Angeles.
“I think it’s better than the press conference we celebrate today,” the 50-year-old said.
The president calls Los Angeles a “trash pile” that contains a “wide community” of criminals and said the federal government will “use all the assets we dominate to calm violence and restore law and order.”
“We will liberate Los Angeles to make it free, clean and safe,” Trump said.
Trump authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city to the will of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. About 700 Marines have been deployed to the Los Angeles area but have not been sent to protests.
Newsom asked a federal court on Tuesday to block Trump’s use of the military in his city. California leaders accuse Trump of anger and turmoil among fanatical protesters.
Newsom warned in his speech Tuesday night: “California may be the first, but it obviously won’t end here. Other states are the next step. Democracy is next. Democracy is under attack before our eyes.”
Trump also announced that his administration is restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the nicknames of alliance leaders until it was changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee and Fort Virginia Fort Hill, Hood, Texas, Fort Gordon, Georgia, Fort Ruke, Alabama and Fort Polk, Louisiana, will change their names, Trump said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has brought the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning back to Georgia.
“Can you believe they changed the name in the last administration?” Trump said. “We will forget all this.”
As they did when they switched back to Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, defense officials announced Tuesday that they had identified service members with the same surname to make changes without the official base carrying names related to the alliance.
Before his speech, Trump watched the U.S. Army showcased missile strikes, a helicopter strike and a building raid, a preview of a U.S. military force performance that he expected to conduct a massive military parade this weekend.
Trump promoted the Army Anniversary, which was the reason for the march Saturday, and it was also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll along city streets to remind the Republican president how to reshape the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.
“I think it will be great,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. “We will celebrate our country’s change.”
As the backdrop of the march, a nationwide “No Kings Day” protest was planned on Saturday to oppose what critics consider to be the government’s tough policy. Trump said earlier Tuesday that there will be more immigrant attacks and more protests will be encountered, including those appearing in the parade.
If this is done, Trump said, “they will encounter a lot of power.”
“I haven’t even heard of the protests, but you know, it’s people who hate our country. But they’ll meet with a very heavy force.”
Newsom weighed in the parade on Tuesday, accusing Trump of forcing the army of “to perform vulgar performances to celebrate his birthday, as other failed dictators have done in the past.”
Fort Bragg is briefly Fort Liberty, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is the headquarters of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Well-trained units such as Green Beret and 82nd Airborne are located there.
The atmosphere and military style are similar to the state fair. Inflatable slides and attractions were set up in one field, artillery, trucks and helicopters were parked on another part of the lawn. Just outside the security checkpoint (but still at the base), there are two stands selling Trump’s political hats, T-shirts and other utensils.
Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were also at the event Tuesday, attendant, veterans and their families.
Driscoll spoke to the crowd before Trump arrived, calling the president “the greatest recruiter in the history of our military.”
Heggs told the crowd that the United States is “restoreing the spirit of the warrior.”
“We are not a university or university. We are not interested in your awakening rubbish and political correctness,” Heggs said.
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Prices reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to the report. Follow the Associated Press report on President Donald Trump at https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that the 82nd Airborne Division, not the U.S. Army Rangers are located in Fort Bragg.