Trump’s Decision on National Guard Deployment
In a contentious move, former President Trump remarked on his Truth Social account, “Sending the National Guard to address the violent, incited riots in California was a crucial decision. Without this intervention, Los Angeles could have faced complete destruction.”
Trump criticized Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, labeling them as “incompetent”. He suggested they should have expressed gratitude, saying, “They should have said to me, ‘Mr. President, you are so wonderful, what would we have done without you, sir!”
Trump accused Newsom and Bass of misleading Californians and Americans by portraying the protests as “peaceful”. He emphasized that the vivid images of violence and destruction told the true story, vowing to take necessary measures to ensure citizens’ safety.
Trump’s Remarks on Newsom and Law Enforcement
Addressing reporters on the White House lawn, Trump responded to a query about Governor Newsom’s challenge to his border official, Tom Homan. Newsom had dared Homan to detain him, to which Trump replied, “If I were Tom, I would detain him. That would be great.” Trump acknowledged his personal liking for Newsom but described him as “extremely incompetent.”
Tom Homan had earlier stated to NBC that anti-immigration enforcement efforts in Los Angeles would persist despite opposition from Democratic leaders. He noted that anyone, including Newsom, who obstructed these operations, could face detention.
In a defiant statement, Newsom challenged Homan’s authority to detain him.
“Border Security is Economic Security”
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took to social media, asserting, “Border security is economic security. The violent riots in Los Angeles have made this indisputably clear.”
Bessent highlighted the chaos as masked demonstrators carrying foreign flags set vehicles ablaze. He urged Congress to pass legislation for hiring additional personnel to combat irregular migration and to construct a fortified wall along the border.
Anti-ICE Protests in Los Angeles
The Trump administration’s response to demonstrations supporting detained irregular migrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles was marked by stern rhetoric.
The anti-ICE protests led to numerous arrests, with frequent clashes between security forces and protesters. Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to manage the situation, attributing the unrest in the region to Democratic leadership.
Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his opposition on MSNBC to Trump’s decision to place the state’s National Guard under federal control without the California state government’s consent, threatening a lawsuit against the federal government.
Newsom argued that Trump’s actions amounted to “adding fuel to the fire” and described the federal takeover of the National Guard as “an illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional act”.
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