TRUMP: ‘I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE’: President Donald Trump said he learned from his first term in office to ignore the military lawyers and state governors who argue that involving the military — especially active-duty troops — in domestic law enforcement violates the spirit, if not the letter, of law.
“I’ve been here before, and I went right by every rule,” Trump said yesterday. “I waited for governors to say, ‘Send in the National Guard.’ They wouldn’t do it. They wouldn’t do it, and they just wouldn’t do it. It kept going on and on; got worse and worse.”
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“I said to myself, ‘If that stuff happens again, we’ve got to make faster decisions, because they don’t want to do it.’ The radical Left — it’s usually radical Left, and it’s usually governors that are Democrat, and they don’t want to call them in, they don’t want to save lives, they don’t want to save property, they don’t want to call them in. I don’t know what it is.”
With Democrats complaining that Trump has exceeded his authority by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles without coordinating with the governor, Trump indicated he would have no problem invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act if that were necessary to protect life and property.
“If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it,” Trump said. “I could tell you there were certain areas of Los Angeles last night, you could have called it an insurrection. It was terrible. But these are paid insurrectionists. These are paid troublemakers. They get money.”
Later, in a speech to soldiers at Ft. Bragg, Trump insisted he had little choice but to act. “If we didn’t do it, there wouldn’t be a Los Angeles. They’d be burning today, just like the houses were burning a number of months ago,” he said. “We will use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order right away. We’re not going to wait seven days and eight days and wait for a Governor that’s never going to call and watch cities burn.”
TRUMP FLOATS USING INSURRECTION ACT TO QUELL VIOLENCE AT LOS ANGELES PROTESTS
HEGSETH: ‘TRUMP HAS THE AUTHORITY AND HE’S WILLING TO USE IT’ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took a similarly defiant tone under cross-examination by Democrats at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, the first of four budget hearings scheduled this week.
“Title Ten U.S. Code 12406 says a legal basis that the president used cites three examples and circumstances for the Guard,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) said, listing the conditions: invasion by a foreign nation, a rebellion or dangerous rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States, or if the president is unable with regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. “Which authority is triggered here to justify the use?” Aguilar asked.
“I don’t know. You just read it yourself, and people can listen themselves, but it sounds like all three to me,” Hegseth replied. “If you’ve got millions of illegals and you don’t know where they’re coming from, they’re waving flags from foreign countries and assaulting police officers and law enforcement officers, that’s a problem.”
“You and I both know that President Trump has all the authorities necessary, and thankfully, he’s willing to do it on behalf of the citizens of Los Angeles, on behalf of our ICE agents, and on behalf of our country,” said Hegseth, who like Trump cited Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as the prime example of why Trump had to intervene.
“I recall 2020, quite well, when Gov. Walz abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground and also allowed five days of chaos to occur inside the streets of Minneapolis. The police precinct was abandoned and burned to the ground, and because of that, the National Guard was eventually far too late mobilized,” Hegseth said.
“We believe that ICE, which is a Federal Law Enforcement Agency, has the right to safely conduct operations in any state and any jurisdiction in the country, especially after 21 million illegals have crossed our border under the previous administration. ICE ought to be able to do its job whether it’s Minneapolis or Los Angeles.”
HEGSETH CITES 2020 MINNESOTA RIOTS AS REASON FOR SENDING NATIONAL GUARD INTO LA
NEWSOM: ‘A BRAZEN ABUSE OF POWER’: California is challenging the deployments in court, accusing Trump of engaging in an unlawful power grab. “He has tried to seize authority he does not have. He cannot lawfully deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on CNN. “The statute he cites does not give him that authority.’’
“You need to have an invasion or a rebellion or the inability to execute the laws of the United States. None of that is present,” Bonta said. “He also needs to have consulted Gov. Newsom and issued the order through Gov. Newsom, who has objected to calling in the National Guard. So, we believe, clearly and unambiguously, under the law, we have a winning case.”
In a video address yesterday Gov. Gavin Newsom accused Trump of choosing “theatrics over public safety” in what he called a “brazen abuse of power” that only “inflamed a combustible situation.”
“This situation was winding down and was concentrated in just a few square blocks downtown,” Newsom said. “But that’s not what Donald Trump wanted. He again chose escalation. He chose more force.”
“This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next,” Newsom said. “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes. This moment we have feared has arrived … There are no longer any checks and balances. Congress is nowhere to be found. Speaker Johnson has completely abdicated that responsibility. The rule of law has increasingly been given way to the rule of Don.”
JUDGE DECLINES TO IMMEDIATELY GRANT NEWSOM EMERGENCY ORDER BLOCKING TROOPS IN LA
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HAPPENING TODAY, MORE FIREWORKS: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine are back on Capitol Hill today, testifying before the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee at 10 a.m. Along with questions about the troop deployments to Los Angeles, expect to hear more frustration about the fact the Trump administration has yet to flesh out the details of its $1 trillion budget request for this fiscal year.
This was a big bone of contention in yesterday’s House hearing, with ranking members Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) growing increasingly irritated at the paucity of details.
“We are forced to mark up a rushed, incomplete Defense Appropriations Act,” said McCollum. “We do not have the critical information, the granular details on the DOD programs that we need to make in order to be effective and efficient with our decisions.”
“For example, Golden Dome at this point is merely a concept,” she said. “It’s not a plan. None of us have been briefed yet on how you intend to spend $175 billion or deliver this program in three short years.”
Things got more heated when DeLauro lost it over Hegseth’s inability to provide details on the budget they were supposed to vote on today. “What is your plan for the future?” she said, her voice rising and her agitation building. “Can we get that in writing and on paper so that we know where you’re going because we don’t have anything today? We have zip, nada.”
“Congresswoman, we have the details and we will provide those for you,” Hegseth promised, as seen in a video clip posted on X by the Pentagon, which was captioned, “WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING!”
THE $134 MILLION PRICE TAG: Under questioning, Hegseth confirmed that the National Guard and Marine Corps deployment to Los Angeles will last two months, while his special assistant, Bryn MacDonnell, revealed the cost will exceed $130 million.
“We stated very publicly that it’s 60 days because we want to ensure that those rioters, looters, and thugs on the other side assaulting our police officers know that we’re not going anywhere,” said Hegseth, while MacDonnell stated the “estimated cost is $134 million, which is largely just TDY [Temporary Duty] cost, travel, housing, food, et cetera.”
That drew immediate criticism from Democrats. “It’s a total mismatch for the mission and a waste of taxpayer money,” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said on CNN. “This is a law enforcement issue. The United States Marines are not trained in law enforcement. That is not what they do,” Lieu said.
“These are situations that local law enforcement and state law enforcement are trained and can handle,” Lieu added. “You don’t want the president deploying federal troops all over the place, simply because there might be some folks who are looting stores. That’s something for local law enforcement to handle. And you don’t want all 50 states subject to Marines showing up in their local jurisdictions. That’s authoritarian. It’s un-American, and it would be illegal.”
PENTAGON: NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO LOS ANGELES WILL COST $134 MILLION
TRUMP TO PROTESTERS: DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE: The First Amendment may guarantee Americans freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble, but President Trump is warning potential protesters to steer clear of his big, beautiful parade honoring the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
“We’re going to be celebrating big on Saturday,” Trump said. “And if there’s any protest that wants to come out, they will be met with very big force, by the way. And for those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force.”
Progressive groups are planning to hold some 1,500 “No Kings Day” events across the U.S. to protest the military parade that will march down Constitution Avenue, with troops, tanks, and helicopters flying overhead.
“I haven’t even heard about a protest,” he said. “But you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.”
Speaking to troops at Fort Bragg, Trump said the point of the parade is to “show off a little bit.”
“You know, recently other countries celebrated the victory of World War I. France was celebrating, really? They were all celebrating. The only one that doesn’t celebrate is the U.S.A. And we’re the ones that won the war,” Trump said. “Without us, you’d all be speaking German right now. Maybe a little Japanese thrown in. But we won the war. And we don’t celebrate.”
TRUMP PROMISES ‘VERY HEAVY FORCE’ AGAINST ANYONE WHO PROTESTS MILITARY PARADE
ARMY BASES REVERT TO HONORING CONFEDERATE GENERALS: When Army bases named for Confederate generals were renamed in honor more deserving Army heroes, it was the result of a bipartisan consensus in Congress, deliberations by a special commission, including public input and authorized by an act signed into law by President Trump himself.
Among his first acts, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth restored the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning by finding in the military files other heroes with the same names. But now President Trump has dispensed with the fiction that the name change does not honor the legacy of the Confederacy, announcing at Fort Bragg that he is changing all the names back, without any pretense that they honor other alternate namesakes.
“For a little breaking news, we are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort AP Hill and Fort Robert E. Lee,” Trump said to the cheers of the soldiers. “We won a lot of battles out of those forts. It’s no time to change. And I’m superstitious, you know. I like to keep it going. Right? I’m very superstitious. We want to keep it going.”
TRUMP ANNOUNCES BASE RENAMING AND FLAG BURNING CRACKDOWN DURING FORT BRAGG RALLY
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump floats using Insurrection Act to quell violence at Los Angeles protests
Washington Examiner: Hegseth cites 2020 Minnesota riots as reason for sending National Guard into LA
Washington Examiner: Pentagon: National Guard deployment to Los Angeles will cost $134 million
Washington Examiner: Judge declines to immediately grant Newsom emergency order blocking troops in LA
Washington Examiner: Newsom warns ‘other states are next’ in address ripping Trump’s deployment of military to LA
Washington Examiner: California US attorney says illegal immigration sweeps will continue despite LA riots: ‘Not deterred’
Washington Examiner: Here’s who ICE arrested before protests broke out in Los Angeles
Washington Examiner: Trump announces base renaming and flag burning crackdown during Fort Bragg rally
Washington Examiner: Trump promises ‘very heavy force’ against anyone who protests military parade
Washington Examiner: Russia launches largest drone assaults of the war as peace talks dry up
Washington Examiner: Military considering ‘wide range of options’ on how to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons
Washington Examiner: UK, Canada, Norway and others ban two Israeli ministers, freeze assets over Gaza comments
Washington Examiner: What to know about security at Army’s 250th celebration in DC
Washington Examiner:
Washington Examiner: Treasury sanctions Mexican cartel ‘involved in’ murder of US Marine veteran Nicholas Quets
Washington Examiner: Appeals court allows Trump tariffs to stay in effect with hearing set for July 31
Washington Examiner: Trump announces base renaming and flag burning crackdown during Fort Bragg rally
Washington Examiner: Trump promises ‘very heavy force’ against anyone who protests military parade
Washington Examiner: Borders vs. budgets: Trump allies spar over second-term priorities
Washington Examiner:
Washington Examiner: Opinion: It’s now or never to reform US counterintelligence
AP: Protests over immigration raids pop up across the US with more planned
Washington Post: Trump to ramp up transfers to Guantánamo, including citizens of allies
AP: Netanyahu’s government could collapse over Israel’s ultra-Orthodox military draft law
Bloomberg: Pentagon Slashes in Half Its Request for Air Force F-35s
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Trump Budget Calls for More Airmen, Guardians in 2026
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Hegseth Pitches $3.5 Billion For F-47 in 2026 Budget
Bloomberg: Key Congressman Questions Hegseth Decision to Slash Test Office
Inside Defense: House Appropriators Signal Support for Continued F-15EX Buys
Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Skyraider II Instructor Pilots Racking Up Flight Hours
Washington Post: Army Ranger accused of raping, assaulting women he met on dating apps
Air & Space Forces Magazine: First Atlas ICBM Launch
THE CALENDAR:
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 11
8:45 a.m. 151 St. George Blvd., Oxon Hill, Maryland — Defense Strategies Institute Human Performance and Biosystems Summit, with the theme “Enhancing Total Force Fitness for Mission Readiness,” with Lt. Gen. David Francis, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; and Rob Wilkins, U.S. Air Force recruiter and former member, President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition https://humanperformance.dsigroup.org/
9 a.m. 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, Virginia — Government Executive Media Group conference” “From Creation to Command: The Power of Digital Content in Defense,” with Jason Kelly, operations branch chief at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs; Matt Guinan, graphics team lead at the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Public Affairs; and acting Defense CIO Katie Arrington https://event.adobe.com/from-creation-to-command
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “Department of the Navy FY 2026 Budget Request,” with testimony from Navy Secretary John Phelan; Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations; and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith http://www.armedservices.house.gov
11 a.m. — Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll delivers remarks at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association virtual Army Data Summit https://www.armydatasummit.com/
2:30 p.m. 124 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Development Subcommittee hearing: “A Review of the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation,” with testimony from D. Lee Forsgren, acting assistant secretary of the Army for civil works; and Lt. Gen. William Graham., chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers http://appropriations.senate.gov
3:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing: “Army Munition Industrial Base Modernization,” with testimony from Brig. Gen. Daniel Duncan, commanding general, Army Joint Munitions Command; Chris Grassano, director, Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center; Steven Morani, performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; and Maj. Gen. John Reim, joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition and commanding general of the Army Picatinny Arsenal http://www.armedservices.house.gov
THURSDAY | JUNE 12
7:15 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army discussion with Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commanding general of I Corps at the Army; and John Nagl, professional lecturer, U.S. Army War College. https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/ltg-mcfarlane-and-dr-nagl
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: “The posture of the U.S. Central Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2026 and the http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “Department of Defense FY26 Budget Request,” with testimony from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine https://armedservices.house.gov/calendar/events
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: the “Department of Defense FY 2026 Budget Request,” with testimony from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine http://www.armedservices.house.gov
10:30 a.m. 192 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: “A Review of the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request for the Army,” with testimony from Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, and Army Chief of Staff Randy George http://appropriations.senate.gov
12:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center book discussion: It Is Possible? A Future Without Nuclear Weapons, with author Ward Hayes Wilson, executive director of RealistRevolt; and Barry Blechman, co-founder, Stimson Center https://www.stimson.org/event/a-future-without-nuclear-weapons/
3:30 p.m. 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion: “Perspectives on Regional Security in the Middle East,” with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC);; Frederic Wehrey, senior fellow, CEIP Middle East Program; Sarah Yerkes, senior fellow, CEIP Middle East Program; and Amr Hamzawy, director, CEIP Middle East Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/06/perspectives-on-regional-security
FRIDAY | JUNE 13
10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar: “The Implications of a Nuclear Armed South Korea,” with retired South Korean Lt. Gen. In-Bum Chun, senior fellow, Association of the U.S. Army https://thinkdeterrence.com/events/the-implications-of-a-nuclear-armed-south-korea/
12 p.m. 2359 Rayburn — House Appropriations Committee markup of the FY 2026 Defense bill http://appropriations.house.gov
SATURDAY | JUNE 14
6:30 p.m. Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C — Grand Military Parade and Celebration honoring the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army, with remarks by President Donald Trump, and featuring veterans, active-duty troops, wounded warriors, Gold Star Families, and patriotic Americans from across the country Tickets: https://america250.org