Trump heads to Fort Bragg while facing criticism for deploying military at Los Angeles protests

By CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump plans to speak at Fort Bragg on Tuesday to celebrate the th anniversary of the U S Army as he deploys the military in an attempt to quiet immigration protests in Los Angeles Fort Bragg located near Fayetteville North Carolina serves as headquarters for U S Army Special Operations Command Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the Rangers are based there Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will also be at Tuesday s event along with system members veterans and their families Related Articles Judge orders US refugee office to reconsider selected children s cases President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his maximalist immigration campaign in face of LA protests Pentagon draws up rules on viable use of force by Marines deployed to LA protests DC prepares for Trump s military parade with miles of fencing and magnetometers RFK Jr ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee Trump has promoted the Army s anniversary as a reason to hold a military parade in Washington D C on Saturday which is also his th birthday Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year Trump who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals has used the newest protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U S Marines to quell disturbances that began as protests over immigration raids Trump has authorized the deployment of National Guard soldiers to the city over the objections of Democratic California Gov Gavin Newsom About Marines were also due to formally deploy to Los Angeles California sued Trump over the deployment with the state attorney general arguing that the president had trampled the state s sovereignty California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters anger leading crowds to block off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire We re gonna have troops everywhere Trump announced over the weekend We re not going to let this happen to our country Fort Bragg has been in the middle of a cultural tug-of-war over the military It was named after a Confederate general then renamed to Fort Liberty two years ago Hegseth brought back the Bragg name but disclosed it was being used to honor an Army paratrooper who served in World War II