As Los Angeles experiences riots and protests related to immigration, President Trump is keen to avoid a repeat of the violence witnessed in 2020. Officials from his administration are recalling the unrest in Minneapolis triggered by George Floyd’s death, highlighting the need for a different approach this time around.
In light of this, Trump is at odds with California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, as he plans to deploy numerous National Guard troops and Marines to keep Los Angeles from facing the same issues as Minneapolis. Trump asserts that this military presence is essential to safeguard the city, while Newsom has criticized the move, claiming it’s akin to turning American forces against the populace.
There’s a clear signal being sent from Trump and his supporters to the Democrats: this isn’t 2020. Homeland Security official Christie Noem, who once governed South Dakota, backed the deployment, suggesting that Minnesota serves as a cautionary tale about poor governance following Floyd’s death. She stated, “I watched him burn his city,” referring to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, vowing not to let another city experience such chaos.
Echoing similar sentiments, DHS Deputy Director Troy Edgar described the situation as markedly different from the summer of 2020. “We want to thank the National Guard personnel for their efforts in protecting federal properties to allow immigrant staff to maintain security,” he noted.
Governor Walz, who took office in 2019, has stated he takes pride in Minnesota’s eventual response during those protests, even if he blames initial delays for a slow National Guard activation.
This current political landscape is unlike the previous one for Trump. Observations from political columnist Christine Tate suggest that Trump learned much since 2020 and is now focused on implementing law and order without the weight of impending elections. “He’s putting law and order in place, and the chaotic past is over,” she declared.
In another bold move, Trump intends to work around Newsom’s authority and exercise greater control over the National Guard than he did previously. This has stirred discomfort among some Republicans who are wary of such actions. Alongside references to the Rebellion Act, Trump is also leveraging another statute for deploying the National Guard federally, inciting further backlash from Newsom and his fellow Democrats.
In response, Newsom has taken the step of filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration, denouncing Trump’s moves as a drift toward authoritarianism. “This manufactured crisis allows him to take charge of the state militia and undermines our Republic,” Newsom shared in a statement.
