section_path: Analysis
section_name: Analysis
paragraph_text: Analysis
  
  Reuters reported that the protests were the strongest domestic backlash to Trump since he took office in January, and became a focal point in a national debate over immigration, protest, the use of federal force in domestic affairs, the boundaries of presidential power, and freedom of speech and assembly. It also reported the use of masks and balaclavas by ICE agents raised concerns over a lack of accountability and intimidation tactics. While some violence occurred, most of the protests were peaceful. Trump's federalization of the National Guard without the cooperation of the state's governor was the first time such an action was done since the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965.
  
  The Trump administration used social media to highlight the most violent clashes between protesters and federal authorities, although most remained peaceful. The Mexican flag was used as a symbol by some protestors, which the administration portrayed as evidencing a "foreign invasion". Fake images, misinformation, and conspiracy theories spread quickly on social media during the protests, with most falsely suggesting the entire city was engulfed in violence, expressing outrage towards immigrants and Democrats, and praising Trump.
  
  The New York Times described the administration as seeking confrontation with Governor Newsom in "a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his political agenda", which Reuters described as allowing Trump to "tout his hardline immigration policies while claiming California was helpless to stop the violence without his intervention". The Times stated that Democrats were taking a cautious approach to the protests and recognizing Republicans' "skillful" ability "to cast liberal lawmakers as tolerant of lawlessness", and warning protestors not to play into Trump's hands. Axios described Trump using the protests to push Republicans to back his One Big Beautiful Bill Act in Congress and distract from coverage of it and his recent feud with Elon Musk. It also described it as providing "red meat" to his political base, with notable MAGA activists increasingly calling for further military deployment to arrest Democrats and legal residents who opposed his policies.