Standoff

Do You Hear the People Sing?

Get full access to Reuters.com for just $1/week. Subscribe now. Politics U.S. Politics U.S. By Jeff Mason, White House correspondent In the early days of President Donald Trump's second term, while Republicans rejoiced as the White House enacted sweeping plans to change the nation, those who opposed him seemed paralyzed about what to do. There were no major marches on Washington, no major acts of resistance, no major figureheads leading a protest charge. That's changing. Outrage over Trump's immigration raids in Los Angeles sparked protests in California that have spread to other states. Trump is not backing down, and a standoff on multiple levels is taking shape. Latest U.S. politics headlines US immigration raid of Omaha meat plant cuts staff, fuels food production worries  Trump wants to 'liberate' Los Angeles, residents say 'no thanks'  Student loan quagmire frustrates borrowers - and alarms some Trump voters  US Justice Department 'weaponization' reviews spark calls to drop prosecutions  NIH scientists speak out over estimated $12 billion in Trump funding cuts  Send in the Marines Trump likes a good fight, so when protests broke out in Los Angeles – a blue city in a blue state with a governor who Trump has often used as a foil – there may have been some glee mixed in with indignation at the White House. Either way, his response was forceful: The president called in the National Guard and U.S. Marines to quell the unrest.  That did not sit well with Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028. The California governor gave a primetime speech lambasting Trump for veering into autocracy and urging Americans not to accept the Republican's strongman approach.  Both men, on a political level, may have gotten exactly what they wanted: a clash of world views and an opportunity to show leadership that appeals to their respective bases. But the incident raised broader questions, too: Is it an inflection point in which Democrats find their voice? Or will the broad support that Trump enjoys for his immigration crackdown extend indefinitely, even as it hits communities harder and more directly?  Protests have spread across America, and more are planned for Saturday by the "No Kings" coalition in a show of opposition to Trump and his administration's policies. On the same day, the president will watch a military parade in Washington marking the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with his 79th birthday.  Protests were not the only major development in the world of immigration. Kilmar Abrego Garcia returned to the United States following his wrongful detention in El Salvador, but faced criminal charges of transporting illegal immigrants within the U.S. Trump, who has developed a fond relationship with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, said the decision to bring the man back was not his. The saga continues.  Outside of immigration, the feud between Trump and his one-time adviser Elon Musk, the billionaire who led the president's Department of Government Efficiency before leaving the administration and suggesting Trump should be impeached, appears to have cooled. Musk said he regretted some of his X posts about the president that he said went too far. I asked Vice President JD Vance last night about his role in bringing the two men back together; he said he had spoken to them about "trying to ensure that Elon is publicly supporting and privately supporting the president's agenda." Neither side seems eager to have a prolonged spat.  Trump and Vance took a break from spats but not from protests when they attended opening night of "Les Miserables" at the Kennedy Center. Trump was greeted with cheers and boos, as my video shows here, when he and his wife, Melania, took their seats. The cast, which got a standing ovation at the end of the production, delivered a powerhouse performance, including the showstopper "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Folks on both sides of the U.S. political divide – in favor or against immigration raids – likely can find resonance in that question.    More Americans approve of Trump's handling of immigration than other issues, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling the following issues?   Follow Reuters/Ipsos polling on the president's approval ratings here. The view from China China affirmed a trade deal that Trump announced between Washington and Beijing. The two sides have been locked in talks on how to overcome their differences on tariffs.  Photo of the week   A law enforcement officer shoots non-lethal weapon at a protestor during a protest against federal immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 11, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson What to watch for June 14: Trump celebrates the Army's birthday with a parade in Washington  June 15-17: G7 leaders meet in Canada   The who, what and when What U.S. police are using to corral, subdue and disperse demonstrators  Trump trade war: tariff deadlines and key upcoming events  Key facts about Los Angeles, progressive beacon at center of anti-Trump backlash  Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website Reuters Politics U.S. is sent once a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. 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