Today, NewsForKids.net looks at three stories from the United States: Millions protest against President Donald Trump; Mr. Trump continues his efforts to send soldiers to US cities; and the Justice Department brings cases against people who have opposed Mr. Trump.
Millions Take Part in “No Kings” Protests
On Saturday, roughly 7 million people took part in “No Kings” protests in about 2,700 different cities and towns across the US. That’s about 2 million more people than June’s No Kings protests. Though the protests were very large, they were peaceful, with no arrests.
(Source: Chad Davis [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.)
The protesters believe Mr. Trump has been acting like a king, by ruling with special orders, ignoring the courts, attacking those who disagree with him, and taking more power than the US Constitution gives to a president. Many protesters are upset about the way Mr. Trump is using ICE and other agents against immigrants – and even US citizens.
Mr. Trump and his supporters have criticized the protests. When a person representing the White House was asked about the protests, she replied, “Who cares?”
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The protesters believe Mr. Trump has been acting like a king, instead of a president. Many protesters are upset about the way Mr. Trump is using ICE and other agents against immigrants – and even US citizens. Above, protestors marching in Chicago on Saturday.
Sending Soldiers to US Cities
Mr. Trump’s government’s efforts to remove immigrants from the US have upset many people. Masked ICE agents have snatched people off of the street, and many people – including US citizens – have been taken out of the country without a trial. In some cities, these actions have led to protests near government buildings.
In recent months, Mr. Trump has been trying to send National Guard soldiers to several US cities led by Democrats. He says the soldiers are needed to protect buildings and keep the peace. But he has also said that the US could use the cities as “training grounds for our military.”
US National Guard
In general, it’s against the law in the US to use the military to enforce laws. National Guard soldiers are state-based soldiers who are usually under the control of a state’s governor. Normally, their job is to help out in difficult situations, such as after a natural disaster. Typically, a president only makes use of a state’s national guard when the state’s governor requests it.
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In recent months, Mr. Trump has been trying to send National Guard soldiers to several US cities led by Democrats. He says the soldiers are needed to protect buildings and keep the peace. Above, protesters in costumes dance outside the ICE building in Portland on October 12 as US agents look on.
Mr. Trump has already sent National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee. He has tried to send soldiers to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, Illinois, but was blocked after local leaders went to court about it.
But on Monday, a US appeals court ruled that the government could send soldiers to Portland without Oregon’s permission while the legal fight continues. Oregon’s government says it will continue to fight in court.
Using the Justice Department to Target Opponents?
Over the last few weeks, several people who have criticized Mr. Trump have been charged with crimes. Many people believe the charges are an attempt to punish these people for going against Mr. Trump.
The government has charged three people: James Comey, who used to lead the FBI; Letitia James, who is attorney general of New York state; and John Bolton, who was National Security Adviser in Mr. Trump’s first term.
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Over the last few weeks, several people who have opposed Mr. Trump have been charged with crimes. One of them is New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully brought a $454 million court case against Mr. Trump. Above, Ms. James (center) during the 2023 trial.
All three have publicly opposed Mr. Trump. After working under Mr. Trump during his first term, both Mr. Comey and Mr. Bolton wrote books that criticized the president. Ms. James successfully brought a $454 million court case against Mr. Trump over his New York real estate deals.
Mr. Trump publicly asked the Justice Department to take action against Mr. Comey and Ms. James. When the lead lawyer said there wasn’t enough proof for a case, Mr. Trump removed him, and replaced him with a lawyer who has no experience with these kinds of cases.
All three people say they are innocent.