A City in Protest, A President in Denial: The Dangerous Optics of Trump’s Crackdown

What’s happening in our beloved Los Angeles, the City of Angels, has deeply saddened us Filipinos living on the East Coast.

As of this writing, unrest has entered its fifth night as a curfew takes effect in Downtown L.A. We can hardly believe that the situation has “necessitated” extreme measures, with the White House approving the deployment of National Guard troops to respond to what began as relatively peaceful protests against ICE raids and the arrests of undocumented immigrants.

Analyst Aaron Blake notes, “President Donald Trump is nothing if not skilled at crafting alternate realities and using them to benefit himself politically. But his messaging around the Los Angeles protests has taken it to another level.”

Blake observed that Trump seems intent on creating the illusion of a sweeping federal crackdown, even if the actual on-the-ground operations tell a different story. While Trump isn’t necessarily bluffing about a forceful response, Blake points out that “there’s also value in creating perceptions.”

The President’s decision to deploy the National Guard and mobilize Marines is controversial for many reasons. But for now, as Blake emphasized, these forces aren’t authorized to engage in active law enforcement. The Guard’s limited role has mostly been to protect federal property — including immigration detention centers — and perhaps assist with the very ICE operations that sparked the protests. Meanwhile, the Marines have remained on standby, with Gen. Eric Smith confirming they haven’t yet been called to action.

CNN’s Josh Campbell reports that most of the 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines mobilized remain largely out of public view. Further, CNN’s Haley Britzky and Natasha Bertrand noted that the Marines have yet to receive formal orders, with many still undergoing additional training.

Despite this, Trump has painted a picture of decisive action, crediting the deployment for quelling violence. “We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California,” he posted on social media. “If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”

He went further: “If I didn’t ‘SEND IN THE TROOPS’ to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground right now.”

The President’s statements overlook the fact that the protests and scattered violence have been concentrated in just parts of Los Angeles, while the vast majority of the city and county continue normal daily life. His remarks exaggerate the military’s visible role, portraying a crackdown far larger than reality.

During a White House event later that day, Trump again declared, “We ended” the violence, claiming that Los Angeles was “under siege until we got there.”

“Last night, they had total control,” he added. “If we didn’t have the military in there, the National Guard – and then we also sent in some Marines…” before trailing off.

He made similar comments Monday, insisting the Guard arrived “just in time.” Even as he downplayed the need for further escalation, the Pentagon mobilized 2,000 more National Guard troops along with the Marines on standby.

While the increased military presence may act as a deterrent, its most significant effect seems symbolic. As CNN’s Kyung Lah, reporting from the ground, said, the Guard’s presence serves more as a “show of force” — not as an active participant in controlling unrest, but as a visible projection of federal authority and, for some, a lightning rod for public frustration.

For many of us watching from afar, particularly Filipinos on the East Coast with ties to Los Angeles, the images and narratives are unsettling. Los Angeles is not just another American city — it’s home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the United States.

We hope for a swift return to peace, dialogue, and real solutions — not just “perceptions.”