Explore Trump’s reaction to the Los Angeles protests and the National Guard’s role in maintaining order amidst rising tensions.
Former President Donald Trump defended his decision to deploy the National Guard to manage the violent protests in California, suggesting that without such measures, Los Angeles might have faced severe destruction. He expressed these sentiments on his Truth Social account, emphasizing the importance of federal intervention.
Trump criticized Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of incompetence. He implied that they should have acknowledged his leadership by saying, ‘Mr. President, you are so wonderful, what would we have done without you, sir!’
He further claimed that Newsom and Bass misled the public by portraying the protests as peaceful, while the visible destruction told a different story. Trump assured that all necessary actions would be taken to ensure public safety.
When questioned by reporters on the White House lawn about Governor Newsom’s challenge to Trump’s border chief, Tom Homan, Trump suggested that if he were Homan, he would indeed detain Newsom, calling it ‘great.’ Although he admitted to liking Newsom, he still labeled him as ‘extremely incompetent.’
In a related interview, Homan stated that anti-immigration enforcement would proceed in Los Angeles, regardless of opposition from Democratic leaders, and mentioned that anyone obstructing these operations, including Newsom, could face detention.
Newsom, responding to the situation, challenged Homan to detain him, and in statements to MSNBC, he declared his intention to oppose Trump’s federalization of the National Guard without state consent, describing it as ‘illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional.’
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed his views on social media, stating, ‘Border security is economic security. The violent riots in Los Angeles have made this indisputably clear.’ He highlighted the incidents of masked protestors displaying foreign flags and setting vehicles ablaze as justification for Congress to pass legislation to bolster border security personnel and construct a border wall.
The protests in Los Angeles, which were in support of irregular migrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompted strong reactions from the Trump administration. During these anti-ICE demonstrations, numerous arrests were made, and skirmishes between protestors and law enforcement were reported.
In a decisive move, President Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to stabilize the situation, placing the blame for the unrest on Democratic leadership. Governor Newsom countered by pledging to legally challenge the federal government’s actions, accusing Trump of exacerbating tensions by assuming control of the National Guard.
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