Trump says he will ‘liberate’ Los Angeles in speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army

President Donald Trump speaks at Fort Bragg, Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Fort Bragg, N.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

BY  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 10:45 PM EDT, June 10, 2025

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (NB360) — President Donald Trump referred to protesters in Los Angeles as “animals” and “a foreign enemy” during a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday. He defended the use of military forces against demonstrators opposing his immigration enforcement actions and pledged to “liberate” the West Coast city.

In his most forceful language yet concerning the protests, Trump utilized a speech, which was initially intended to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, to criticize the protesters. He reiterated his false claims about the 2020 election being rigged and criticized the former president, Joe Biden.

The Republican president, who views the military as a vital instrument for domestic objectives, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as a chance to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines, despite opposition from California’s Democratic governor. Over the weekend, protesters blocked a major freeway and set vehicles on fire in Los Angeles, but the demonstrations in the city of 4 million have mostly been concentrated in a few downtown blocks.

“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That’s what they are,” Trump stated on Tuesday.

Trump’s intense rhetoric came as he kept open the option of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the president’s most extreme emergency powers. This act allows him to deploy military forces within the U.S. to quell rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law under certain conditions.

Trump drew significant applause from the audience, who laughed at his jokes and enjoyed his dancing to his campaign anthem, “ YMCA.” However, some attendees were uncomfortable with parts of his speech.

Robin Boothe, a Trump voter and audiology assistant on the base, described the speech as “classic Trump.” Yet, she found it excessively partisan, particularly his remarks about Los Angeles.

“I thought that was better left for a news conference than what we were celebrating today,” the 50-year-old commented.

U.S Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at Fort Bragg, N.C., Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

The president referred to Los Angeles as "a trash heap" with "entire neighborhoods under control" of criminals, stating that the federal government would "use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order."

"We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again," Trump declared.

Trump approved the deployment of 4,000 National Guard soldiers to the city, contrary to the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Around 700 Marines were sent to the Los Angeles area but had not yet been tasked with responding to the protests.

Newsom requested a federal court on Tuesday to prevent Trump from using the military in his city. California leaders accused Trump of aggravating protesters’ anger and escalating the unrest.

In a speech Tuesday evening, Newsom cautioned: "California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes."

Trump also announced his administration would restore the names of seven military bases that were named after Confederate leaders until they were changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee, and Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama, and Fort Polk in Louisiana will have their original names reinstated, Trump stated.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already reinstated the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia.

"Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?" Trump remarked. "We’ll forget all about that."

As with the renaming of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, Defense officials announced Tuesday they had identified service members with the same last names to make the change without officially using Confederate-related names.

Before his speech, Trump watched the U.S. Army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault, and a building raid, previewing the kind of American military display he's expected to showcase in the nation’s capital during a massive military parade this weekend.

Trump has cited the Army’s anniversary as a reason for the parade on Saturday, which also marks his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will parade through city streets as a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.

"I think it’s going to be great," Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. "We’re going to celebrate our country for a change."

Coinciding with the parade, "No Kings Day" protests are planned nationwide on Saturday, opposing what critics view as the administration’s harsh policies. Trump mentioned earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any further protests would be met with even greater force, including those at the parade.

If they occur, Trump said, "they will be met with very big force."

"I haven’t even heard about a protest but you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force."

Newsom commented on Tuesday about the parade, accusing Trump of compelling the military "to put on a vulgar display to celebrate his birthday, just as other failed dictators have done in the past."

Fort Bragg, which was briefly Fort Liberty and is located near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are stationed there.

Soldiers stand attentively as they listen to President Donald Trump speak at Fort Bragg, N.C., on June 10, 2025.

The scene was reminiscent of a state fair with a military twist. In one area, inflatable slides and attractions for kids were set up, while another section of the field hosted artillery, trucks, and helicopters. Just beyond the security checkpoint, but still within the base, two stands were selling Trump-themed hats, T-shirts, and other merchandise.

Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll were present at Tuesday’s event, along with service members, veterans, and their families.

Before Trump’s arrival, Driscoll addressed the crowd, praising the president as “the greatest recruiter in our Army’s history.”

Hegseth told the attendees that the U.S. is “restoring the warrior ethos” to its military forces.

“We’re not a college or a university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,” Hegseth said, eliciting cheers from the crowd.