How to decode the shifting politics of the anti-Trump protests

Nationwide protests against President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation efforts are gaining momentum. The demonstrations could define his second term, reshape both parties, and influence the 2028 election.

The White House escalated the standoff this week, focusing on Los Angeles. Trump’s aggressive moves highlight two themes of his presidency: projecting strength and consolidating power. “President Trump will never allow mob rule to prevail in America,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt during a Wednesday briefing.

Trump’s administration deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed more forces could follow. “We are not scared to go further … if we need to,” she said.

The political risks are rising for both parties. Democrats are still reeling from their 2024 loss and remain divided on how to oppose Trump. Some fear radical left-wing reactions will drive away centrist voters. Yet others, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, are stepping forward. “We cannot sit by while the Constitution is trampled,” Newsom said Tuesday in an address aimed at rallying his party.

Newsom’s stance may bolster his rumored 2028 presidential bid. But few Democrats have succeeded in taking on Trump directly. Even now, Trump holds the political upper hand. He frames Democrats as lawless and unpatriotic. “Democrats side with illegal alien criminals and violent rioters over law enforcement,” Leavitt claimed, echoing a familiar Trump-era message.

The administration’s language aims to sway public opinion by dehumanizing migrants. It paints them not as families fleeing poverty but as criminals. “Illegal alien murderers, rapists, and pedophiles” are Leavitt’s chosen descriptors. It’s a tactic designed to rally Trump's base while stifling sympathy for deportees.

This strategy also revives a potent political narrative: Democrats hate the police. Trump used it in 2016 and 2020. In this version, Democrats not only oppose law enforcement but enable chaos. “Rioters burned flags, chanted ‘death to ICE,’ and attacked American culture,” Leavitt said.

Trump's approach goes beyond politics. Legal scholars warn it could trigger a constitutional crisis. The president is using active-duty military on U.S. soil—a move normally restricted. “This is a clear challenge to civil-military norms,” said legal expert Mary Ellen O’Connell of Notre Dame.

Still, Trump’s base applauds his hardline tactics. At rallies, his most extreme rhetoric gets loud cheers. His administration believes this crisis could help normalize military involvement in immigration enforcement. “America voted for mass deportations,” said senior adviser Stephen Miller on X.

Republicans like Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton are also pushing this narrative. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he called for more force. “Send in the troops, for real,” he wrote. He warned of a leftist threat trying to halt immigration enforcement with violence.

Trump’s strategy is bold. If he convinces Americans the country is under siege, he could gain support for extraordinary actions. But the risk is real. If protests escalate and people die, the backlash could be swift and severe. “A misstep could cost him public trust,” warned historian Julian Zelizer of Princeton University.

Democrats, meanwhile, struggle to find a unified response. The party lacks a dominant national figure. Newsom’s rising profile offers a glimmer of leadership, but challenges loom. Governors like Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, and Wes Moore may also seek the presidency. Each must balance base demands with broader electoral concerns.

The danger lies in overreaction. Democrats remember the “defund the police” backlash in 2020. While that movement started in good faith, it became a political liability. If today’s protests spark extreme rhetoric, the party risks another backlash.

Polls show many Americans support stricter immigration enforcement. But they draw the line at deporting peaceful, longtime residents. Trump could lose ground if his policies appear cruel or chaotic. His “zero tolerance” family separation policy in 2018 sparked widespread outrage. A similar moment now could undercut his message.

Despite his confidence, Trump is walking a fine line. If he loses control of the narrative, or if violence erupts, it could haunt his second term—just as the pandemic hurt his first.

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