Ex-Trump insider Lev Parnas over the weekend noted the situation surrounding the Los Angeles protests, saying "the clock is ticking" as Trump has "troops in the streets, tanks on standby, and plans to crush the resistance."
"I know a lot of you woke up this morning in shock—staring at the footage out of Los Angeles, asking yourselves: How could this happen? Is this real? Is this really happening in the United States of America? But let me be clear, folks—this is real. It is happening. And I need you to know that my sources deep inside Trump World have been warning me that what we witnessed overnight was no isolated event. It’s part of something much bigger. And what I have to tell you today is chilling," he wrote.
"Yesterday, when Donald Trump deployed over 2,000 federal troops into Los Angeles under the justification of 'restoring order,' most headlines ran with it like it was some isolated act of retaliation—just another example of Trump punishing blue states. And yes, part of this is personal. Make no mistake: this is revenge against California, against Governor Gavin Newsom, and against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. But it’s not just about settling scores."
According to Parnas, in reality, "This is about control."
"What happened yesterday in Los Angeles was a test run—a dry rehearsal for something much, much bigger. I’ve been hearing from multiple trusted insiders that Trump’s inner circle—particularly Pete Hegseth and some of the more radicalized loyalists embedded at the Pentagon—are actively drafting operational plans for the mass mobilizations expected on June 14th," he added. "This isn’t just about Trump’s birthday. This isn’t just about another vanity parade. This is about shutting down resistance."
Parnas added that Trump "fears the American people rising up on June 14th, in all 50 states, with signs that say No Kings—with voices that remind the world that we are still a democracy."
"That’s why he’s pushing for tanks. That’s why he wants the biggest military display America has seen since the Cold War. Because he wants the optics of power. He wants to smother the story before it even begins. He wants his parade to dominate the headlines, not the marchers in the streets fighting for democracy," he said. "But I need you to understand this: According to my sources, there are discussions happening right now—within Trump’s most trusted circle—about invoking martial law if the protests 'get out of hand.' They’re looking for any excuse. Any video. Any act of violence. Any disruption. That’s all they need to justify a crackdown."
He then warned people not to fall for a trap being set by Trump associates.
"And it gets worse. What I’m being told is that Trump allies—including elements connected to Proud Boys, III Percenters, and other far-right militia networks—are planning to infiltrate the June 14th protests. Not to support them. To sabotage them. Their goal? Create chaos. Spark confrontation. Trigger a response from law enforcement. And then hand Trump the justification he needs to clamp down," Parnas wrote. "Let me say this loud and clear: We cannot give them that excuse."
Parnas went on to encourage peace, and told protesters to "stay vigilant."