There was never a need for President Trump to send in the national guard to Los Angeles. It was a want. A choice.
It has to be said that the chief of ICE, Tom Homan – not a man readily familiar with the doctrine of “policing by consent” – was specifically chosen by Donald Trump for the job because of his casual disdain for the law and constitutional niceties. It should be no great surprise that those working for him took their hardline cue from Mr Homan and, indeed, the president himself.
It is one driven entirely by the president’s extreme authoritarian instincts, and by political motives. Division, crisis and violence are things the president thrives on rather than fears.
__________
