In Washington, thousands of soldiers and dozens of heavy military vehicles are preparing for the joint birthday parade of the US Army (250 years) and President Trump (79), scheduled for June 14. During his first term, Trump sought to hold a military parade through the streets of the US capital, inspired by a similar parade he had seen in Paris, but was blocked by the leadership of the defense establishment and his staff, who believed such a parade was un-American and wasteful.
At the same time, and in a very different atmosphere, the US military is making its way to another American city. In Los Angeles, California, the White House has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops. This follows demonstrations involving hundreds of participants over the past two days, protesting raids on businesses for the arrest and deportation of undocumented individuals. The current order grants the National Guard—a reserve force trained for both military and domestic missions—limited authority to protect federal forces and facilities but does not permit participation in law enforcement operations. However, this authority may be expanded in the future.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who ordinarily commands the state’s National Guard, made clear that he opposes federalization of the Guard. However, based on the wording of the president’s order, it is unclear whether the federalized forces are from California’s National Guard or from other states. If forces from another state are indeed deployed, it would be an unprecedented event. The deployment of National Guard troops without a request from the state itself or without the state being in violation of a federal court order is highly unusual.
In the background to this, Trump was deeply frustrated in 2020 that the military was not used more extensively to suppress protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd by a police officer. Furthermore, throughout his election campaign and after taking office, Trump and his associates expressed their intent to use the military against what they termed “domestic enemies.”
While the involvement of the military in domestic American affairs is not expected to have a direct impact on Israel, it is likely that over time it will damage the broad public legitimacy of the military within the United States and may exacerbate the country’s internal instability.
In Washington, thousands of soldiers and dozens of heavy military vehicles are preparing for the joint birthday parade of the US Army (250 years) and President Trump (79), scheduled for June 14. During his first term, Trump sought to hold a military parade through the streets of the US capital, inspired by a similar parade he had seen in Paris, but was blocked by the leadership of the defense establishment and his staff, who believed such a parade was un-American and wasteful.
At the same time, and in a very different atmosphere, the US military is making its way to another American city. In Los Angeles, California, the White House has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops. This follows demonstrations involving hundreds of participants over the past two days, protesting raids on businesses for the arrest and deportation of undocumented individuals. The current order grants the National Guard—a reserve force trained for both military and domestic missions—limited authority to protect federal forces and facilities but does not permit participation in law enforcement operations. However, this authority may be expanded in the future.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who ordinarily commands the state’s National Guard, made clear that he opposes federalization of the Guard. However, based on the wording of the president’s order, it is unclear whether the federalized forces are from California’s National Guard or from other states. If forces from another state are indeed deployed, it would be an unprecedented event. The deployment of National Guard troops without a request from the state itself or without the state being in violation of a federal court order is highly unusual.
In the background to this, Trump was deeply frustrated in 2020 that the military was not used more extensively to suppress protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd by a police officer. Furthermore, throughout his election campaign and after taking office, Trump and his associates expressed their intent to use the military against what they termed “domestic enemies.”
While the involvement of the military in domestic American affairs is not expected to have a direct impact on Israel, it is likely that over time it will damage the broad public legitimacy of the military within the United States and may exacerbate the country’s internal instability.