Protesters move through downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, as demonstrations continue after a series of immigration raids. 

Protests against Donald Trump’s mass deportations, now spreading nationwide, could define his presidency, make or break Democratic careers and shape future elections.

The White House, which thinks it has all the cards, keeps escalating the drama in Los Angeles. Trump’s aggression underlines two themes of his second presidency – the desires to look strong and to grab even more power.

Democrats, still looking to explain their 2024 election defeat and to cope with Trump’s round-the-clock shock politics, again risk looking weak and overmatched. But in California Gov. Gavin Newsom, at least, they finally have a champion willing to stand up to Trump – even if he’s mostly looking to 2028.

As the most significant protest outburst of Trump’s second term develops, top leaders in both parties face risky calculations and swift adjustments.

Democrats have a political base itching for a fight back against the president, but must worry that radical reactions from the party’s left wing will alienate the voters who walked out on them in 2024.

The White House might be convinced that the confrontations are a political gift that put Democrats in a political vise for now. But Trump is stoking tensions that could be hard to control. And by putting troops into volatile situations in the proximity of protesters and agitators, he risks clashes that could turn tragic and could validate claims that he’s risking lives for a callous personal payoff.