Wallace Warns Trump’s Military Moves in LA Signal Dangerous New Era

In a fiery exchange on late-night TV, MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace didn’t mince words, accusing President Donald Trump of using the military as political pawns in his second term. Speaking with Stephen Colbert, Wallace highlighted the deployment of 700 U.S. Marines and National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell anti-immigration enforcement riots, a move she called a dangerous escalation. “It feels different,” she said, noting the absence of moderating figures like Mark Esper or Jim Mattis in Trump’s current administration. Unlike his first term, where such actions were reined in, Wallace argued this brazen use of military force signals a troubling shift.

Wallace pointed to Stephen Miller’s role in orchestrating ICE raids, describing them as a “siege” on Los Angeles, unchecked by the seasoned voices that once balanced Trump’s impulses. When Colbert pressed her on whether this stretched presidential powers, Wallace doubled down: “Using the military as a public tactic feels reckless, like a line we haven’t crossed before.”

The White House fired back through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, who defended Trump’s actions, claiming the riots—fueled by “lawless chaos” and enabled by California’s Democratic leadership—demanded federal intervention to protect law enforcement. Jackson framed Trump as a decisive leader stepping in where local officials faltered.

Colbert also probed Wallace on the Democratic Party’s future, asking if it risked falling under an autocrat’s shadow. Ever optimistic, Wallace rejected the notion of a rotting party, suggesting a single inspiring leader could spark a comeback. In contrast, she painted the Republican Party as spiraling deeper into Trump’s authoritarian orbit.

Wallace’s commentary wasn’t without personal flair. Reflecting on Trump’s recent address to Congress, where he honored a 13-year-old cancer survivor, DJ Daniel, as an honorary Secret Service agent, she struck a poignant note. “I let myself feel joy for DJ,” she said, wishing him a long life in law enforcement but hoping he’d never face the chaos of defending the Capitol against Trump’s supporters, as officers did in past unrest.