Trump redefines insurrection during Los Angeles protests

In June 2025, protests erupted in Los Angeles, California, due to federal immigration raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). President Donald Trump called in the National Guard to assist without a request from the governor, a departure from his previous stance on deploying troops during civil unrest. Prior to this, in September 2020, Trump had stated that he had to abide by state laws and could only act upon a governor's request, leaving the Insurrection Act as an on-paper option that he dismissed in relation to protests in Portland, Oregon. However, during the recent unrest, he and key aides labeled the demonstrators as 'insurrectionists', marking a significant shift in the use of this term compared to his previous statements regarding the January 6 Capitol riot. The phrase 'paid insurrectionists' was used by Trump on social media, fueling accusations of hypocrisy, especially considering his leniency towards the January 6 rioters, whom he had previously called 'patriots'. As criticism mounted against Trump's handling of the two situations, comparisons were drawn between the Trump administration's response to the Capitol riot and the recent LA protests, with former officials and victims of January 6 expressing outrage over what they perceive as favoritism and a double standard in enforcement of the law. Those involved in the LA protests were harshly criticized, contrasting with the defense offered by Trump and his allies to the rioters on January 6. This evolving narrative reflects how Trump's definition of insurrection has broadened, suggesting a politicization of the term aimed at justifying federal responses to dissent against his administration's policies.