How an ex-US Marine became vital in the fight against Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement
Amidst the worst-case scenarios, Janessa Goldbeck, a former US Marine and now the CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization, has likely envisioned them all. In 2023, she consulted on a documentary that war-gamed a presidential candidate staging a military coup. Last year, she advised local leaders on the hypothetical of troops being deployed to their streets for immigration enforcement.
When Donald Trump won the presidency, Goldbeck's nightmare became a reality. The CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, via Zoom from her home in San Diego, California, expressed a surreal feeling, saying, "It’s a little surreal to see something that we’ve been talking about and thinking about and stressing out about." During the press tour for the documentary, some questioned if she was scaring people with her hyperbolic predictions. Now, she's faced with the reality of her warnings.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has sought to politicize the military, using it as a tool against Democratic-led states and cities. He has deployed thousands of National Guard troops to cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, and Washington DC, sparking protests from local officials and residents. Goldbeck, having read the Project 2025 policy document, anticipated this. Last year, Vet Voice Foundation, which mobilizes veterans and military families to defend US democracy, ran exercises with local elected officials, activists, and journalists to prepare for a second Trump administration conducting aggressive immigration enforcement.
This preparation has now become a vital resource for governors, state attorneys general, and mayors trying to navigate the challenges. Goldbeck, 40, explains that the foundation's work has shifted to supporting litigation to halt or slow down National Guard deployments, providing expert witnesses, and training activist groups on the differences between the National Guard and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) personnel.
She also serves as an advisor to governors and mayors, helping them shape their communications and prevent escalation of violence. Goldbeck emphasizes that not all National Guard members are Trump supporters; their roles are often restricted by courts to guarding federal property, and some find the work tedious and unfulfilling.
The deployments have raised questions about the safety of National Guard members. After a tragic shooting in Washington DC, where two West Virginia National Guard members were killed by an ambush, Goldbeck questions whether the president is unnecessarily endangering these troops. She believes they are targets for anyone seeking chaos or with personal vendettas.
Embarrassment has also been a concern, as National Guard members in Washington have been seen engaging in activities like litter removal and helping commuters. Goldbeck highlights the humiliation felt by service members in such situations, emphasizing the president's disdain for those in uniform and his lack of understanding of military values.
The broader context of Trump's expansion of presidential power and his attempts to sideline Congress, gut the civil service, and weaponize the justice department against perceived enemies has raised concerns. Goldbeck warns that Trump could use the military to cling to power, a scenario she hopes people have learned to anticipate.
Her fear is that this is a lead-up to the potential use of the guard or the US military around the next election cycle, a concern shared by senior administration members and the president himself. Goldbeck's own story is a testament to the diverse nature of the military, reflecting her journey from a vegetarian pacifist Hindu upbringing in San Diego to her activism in Washington and eventual decision to join the Marine Corps at 25.
Her decision to leave the Marine Corps in 2019, influenced by her mother's illness and Trump's presidency, led her to become involved in politics. She ran for Congress, although she didn't win, and later took the helm of Vet Voice Foundation, advocating for veterans' rights and public land protection. Goldbeck's activism and military background have shaped her perspective on the threats to democracy and the military's apolitical nature.
