Sparking firestorm Trump Vows to “Liberate” Los Angeles Amid Troop Deployment and Protests. In a fiery and polarizing speech on Tuesday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, President Donald Trump pledged to "liberate Los Angeles," setting off a national uproar amid already heightened tensions over immigration enforcement and military involvement in civil matters. The address, meant to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, instead became a political lightning rod, showcasing Trump's hardline rhetoric and his controversial decision to deploy troops into Los Angeles.