Sunday Issues-June 8, 2025
The start of a summer of protest?
I had hoped to write something positive about Washington and the Trump administration this week. A heavy lift, I know, but trade talks between the U.S. and China will take place this week in London. I don’t like Trump’s tariffs or his negotiation tactics, but I also want to see Trump’s trade war end.
On a call last week, Trump claims, issues associated with exports of rare earth materials were resolved. That’s good news, I think. No details, of course, were shared. Trump also invited Xi to visit the U.S., and Xi accepted.
A trade deal with China is possible and would mitigate fears of a recession, but unfortunately, the trade talks will not be the most important Trump news this week. The President’s using the National Guard to break up a protest over immigration enforcement in California is.
For months, many of us have worried that Trump will use the military to quash protests against his policies. He is already using the military for border enforcement. But the image of soldiers arresting U.S. citizens opposed to Trump's politics is something most Americans hoped never to see.
This coming week, “No Kings” protests, described by Axios as a national day of defiance, will be held across the U.S. The demonstrations are scheduled for July 14, Trump’s birthday, and the date for Trump’s much-maligned military parade in Washington. The protests are sure to anger Trump. Will he use the military to break up any protest that becomes violent?
Clarification not needed.
One notable provision in President Trump’s social media posting relating to California is deeply troubling. Trump wrote, “Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why???”
Trump, of course, means that protestors will not be allowed to wear masks. Trump and his loyalists have already made police-wearing masks during immigration raids standard practice.
A summer of protests?
This summer will be a summer of protests that could be reminiscent of the 1960s. I hope I am wrong,
Thank you.
Thank you for reading Sunday Issues. This week will be an interesting one. Stay safe and hope for the best.
I think something even worse than Kent State will happen. Trump is already angry. Besides the protests, his approval rating is falling. According to The Economist, as of June 3rd, 45% of people approve of the job Trump is doing and 50% disapprove. I'm sure that doesn’t sit well with him.
To your question "Will he use the military to break up any protest that becomes violent?", I believe that not only will he use it to suppress and crack down on dissent, but also ihe will use it to intentionally inflame tensions. As California Governor Gavin Newsom has said, the deployment of troops in California is “purposefully inflammatory". Given Trump's thirst for absolute power, I can see him taking the same approach to any protest that he deems violent. I hope I'm wrong.
Protest? We are in the opening act of a Civil War they’ve wanted and planned for 50 years.
Remember what Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage foundation said last year about a second American revolution? They never planned for it to be bloodless.