In a rapidly unfolding situation in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump signed an order federalizing 2,000 members of the National Guard in reaction to ongoing immigration protests.
The announcement, made by the White House on Saturday night, comes amid escalating violence between demonstrators and federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement actions in the city.
Over the past few days, these tensions have resulted in more than 100 arrests, prompting the federal government’s unusual intervention.
In a statement following the deployment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that violent mobs had increasingly attacked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and federal agents engaged in deportation operations.
She emphasized the necessity of Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard, which would otherwise report to California’s Governor Gavin Newsom.
Late Sunday, Governor Newsom expressed his disapproval of Trump’s actions, formally requesting the Trump Administration rescind the troops’ deployment and return control to state command.
In a post on X, Newsom declared, “I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
Earlier, Newsom had criticized the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory,” arguing that it would escalate tensions rather than ease them.
He reassured the public and local law enforcement that Los Angeles authorities could readily access assistance when needed, asserting that there is no current unmet need for federal support.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed the governor’s sentiments, describing the federalized troop deployment as a “chaotic escalation” that exacerbates fear among residents.
Bass stated, “The fear people are feeling in our city right now is very real – it’s felt in our communities and within our families and it puts our neighborhoods at risk.”
She called for protestors to remain peaceful and affirmed her communication with immigrant rights leaders and local authorities.
Despite calls for de-escalation from local officials, the White House signaled no intention to back down. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went as far as to threaten the activation of U.S. Marines if violence persists in the streets of Los Angeles.
In a post on X, Hegseth stated, “If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert.”
On Sunday morning, President Trump took to Truth Social, commending the National Guard’s response amidst the turmoil in Los Angeles, stating, “great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest.”
At the time of his post, the National Guard troops he ordered had only recently arrived in the area, leading to skepticism over the timing of his remarks.
The chaotic situation unfolded while Trump attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in Newark, New Jersey, the night prior to his order.
In a formal memo directed to key national security officials, Trump claimed that recent protests and acts of violence constitute a rebellion against federal authority.
He stated, “To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”
Exercising his constitutional powers, Trump moved to federalize members of the National Guard, justifying the action through perceived credible threats of violence.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the tensions, branding the protestors as “insurrectionists” in a post on X, where he claimed that demonstrators were attacking immigration enforcement officers while political leaders from one side of the spectrum opposed necessary border enforcement.
As these events continue to unfold, the situation in Los Angeles remains tense, with national and local leaders divided on the response to protests surrounding immigration enforcement.
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