Ex-Trump insider Lev Parnas over the weekend noted the situation surrounding the Los Angeles protests, saying ā€œthe clock is tickingā€ as Trump has ā€œtroops in the streets, tanks on standby, and plans to crush the resistance.ā€

ā€œI know a lot of you woke up this morning in shock—staring at the footage out of Los Angeles, asking yourselves: How could this happen? Is this real? Is this really happening in the United States of America? But let me be clear, folks—this is real. It is happening. And I need you to know that my sources deep inside Trump World have been warning me that what we witnessed overnight was no isolated event. It’s part of something much bigger. And what I have to tell you today is chilling,ā€ he wrote.

ā€œYesterday, when Donald Trump deployed over 2,000 federal troops into Los Angeles under the justification of ā€˜restoring order,’ most headlines ran with it like it was some isolated act of retaliation—just another example of Trump punishing blue states. And yes, part of this is personal. Make no mistake: this is revenge against California, against Governor Gavin Newsom, and against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. But it’s not just about settling scores.ā€

According to Parnas, in reality, ā€œThis is about control.ā€

ā€œWhat happened yesterday in Los Angeles was a test run—a dry rehearsal for something much, much bigger. I’ve been hearing from multiple trusted insiders that Trump’s inner circle—particularly Pete Hegseth and some of the more radicalized loyalists embedded at the Pentagon—are actively drafting operational plans for the mass mobilizations expected on June 14th,ā€ he added. ā€œThis isn’t just about Trump’s birthday. This isn’t just about another vanity parade. This is about shutting down resistance.ā€

Parnas added that Trump ā€œfears the American people rising up on June 14th, in all 50 states, with signs that say No Kings—with voices that remind the world that we are still a democracy.ā€

ā€œThat’s why he’s pushing for tanks. That’s why he wants the biggest military display America has seen since the Cold War. Because he wants the optics of power. He wants to smother the story before it even begins. He wants his parade to dominate the headlines, not the marchers in the streets fighting for democracy,ā€ he said. ā€œBut I need you to understand this: According to my sources, there are discussions happening right now—within Trump’s most trusted circle—about invoking martial law if the protests ā€˜get out of hand.’ They’re looking for any excuse. Any video. Any act of violence. Any disruption. That’s all they need to justify a crackdown.ā€

He then warned people not to fall for a trap being set by Trump associates.

ā€œAnd it gets worse. What I’m being told is that Trump allies—including elements connected to Proud Boys, III Percenters, and other far-right militia networks—are planning to infiltrate the June 14th protests. Not to support them. To sabotage them. Their goal? Create chaos. Spark confrontation. Trigger a response from law enforcement. And then hand Trump the justification he needs to clamp down,ā€ Parnas wrote. ā€œLet me say this loud and clear: We cannot give them that excuse.ā€

Parnas went on to encourage peace, and told protesters to ā€œstay vigilant.ā€

  • BeBopALouie@lemmy.ca
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    6 days ago

    What if everyone stayed home on June 14. Just a chill day at home and rump rolling down the streets with only his brain dead followers. No optics no happy.

    • Nougat@fedia.io
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      6 days ago

      Kicking the can down the road isn’t going to work. The only way out of this is through, and the sooner we get into the shit, the sooner we’ll be out of it.

      • BeBopALouie@lemmy.ca
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        6 days ago

        I was not saying kick the can down the road. I was saying it for this specific date because it’s his birthday and it’ll piss him off. He is all about optics, and if he has no optics, he’ll lose it.

        • NABDad@lemmy.world
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          6 days ago

          If the people who stand against him stay home and stay quiet, then to him it looks like everyone is on his side.

          You can’t just have ā€œno opticsā€. If protestors aren’t there, then it means no one objected.

          We need to show him that we don’t support his dictatorship.

          • BeBopALouie@lemmy.ca
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            6 days ago

            I am still not convinced. As everyone knows rump loves his attention. rump also hates his followers. If all the decent folks stayed at home and then only all the magats would be there and due to their nature, they would all start fighting with each other. Then the following day, you blitz news with see, decent folk don’t care about rump and did not go. I feel this would damage rump greatly as he is so fragile. I may also be senile and it’s a dumb idea.

            Edit it would also deny what rump wants. An altercation to start the shooting. Would also keep the violence contained to the magats infighting.