Trump Deploys National Guard to Los Angeles Amid Protests, Issues Stern Warning

Los Angeles, CA – June 8, 2025 – President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in response to escalating protests over federal immigration raids in the city. In a fiery statement, Trump criticized California’s Democratic leadership, accusing them of failing to maintain order and vowing to address what he called “lawlessness” in the region. The move, which bypassed the authority of Governor Gavin Newsom, has sparked sharp condemnation from state and local officials who labeled the deployment as inflammatory and unnecessary.

The protests erupted Friday, June 6, 2025, following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles County. Demonstrations intensified on Saturday in the predominantly Latino city of Paramount, where clashes between protesters and federal agents involved tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and reports of Molotov cocktails. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, one person was arrested, several others were detained, and two deputies sustained minor injuries during the unrest.

Trump’s presidential memorandum, announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, federalized the National Guard under Title 10 authority, placing the troops under federal control. The White House described the protests as “violent mobs” attacking ICE officers and federal agents, asserting that the deployment was necessary to “halt and reverse the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States.” In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”

Governor Newsom condemned the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory,” arguing that local authorities had sufficient resources to manage the situation. “The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate,” Newsom posted on X, urging residents to avoid violence and not give federal officials the “spectacle” they seek. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed Newsom’s sentiments, calling the National Guard deployment “completely unnecessary” and warning that an excessive law enforcement presence could escalate tensions, referencing the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

As of early Sunday, June 8, 2025, no National Guard troops had been observed on Los Angeles streets, though a federal official told The New York Times that forces were expected to arrive within 24 hours. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth heightened tensions by posting on X that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton were “on high alert” and could be mobilized if unrest persisted. Newsom described this threat as “deranged behavior.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California denounced the deployment as an “inflammatory abuse of power,” warning that it endangered residents and undermined democratic principles by militarizing civilian spaces. Meanwhile, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, defended the deployment, stating on Fox News that the National Guard would support law enforcement efforts to “protect public safety.” Homan also warned that Newsom and Bass could face arrest if they obstructed federal operations, a claim that drew sharp rebuke from state officials.

The deployment marks a rare use of federal authority to override a state governor, reminiscent of President George H.W. Bush’s federalization of the National Guard during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, though that action was requested by then-Governor Pete Wilson. Legal experts note that Trump’s move, executed without state consent, raises significant questions about federal-state relations.

Protests were expected to continue Sunday, with organizers planning a demonstration at Los Angeles City Hall. Local law enforcement reported that Saturday’s demonstrations had largely subsided by early Sunday, though tensions remained high.

17GEN4.com

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