Democrat comments on Trump sending troops: ‘He seeks attention’

Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif) has criticized President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles amidst ongoing protests related to actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).

Gomez, who serves California’s 34th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Los Angeles, responded on Wednesday to whether the administration intends to reinstate the National Guard and Marines due to a curfew put in place by Mayor Karen Bass following unrest.

“No, I don’t believe Trump is doing this for the right reasons. It’s really about the spectacle. He enjoys portraying himself as tough, but when it comes to significant issues like dealing with China, he tends to pull back,” Gomez remarked in an interview with News Nation.

“When facing the cartels, he often takes a backward approach. He wants to present a tough image, and that’s a consistent pattern, even if it’s somewhat superficial.”

The administration claimed that, while some protesters engaged in looting federal property, the Marine and National Guard presence was to help mitigate the unrest following incidents of arson.

Bass, who has faced criticism from Trump and his supporters over her management of the protests, announced during a press conference on Tuesday that a curfew had been imposed in parts of downtown Los Angeles to curb looting. It runs from 8 PM to 6 AM and is set to remain in effect for several days.

“If you don’t live or work in downtown Los Angeles, please steer clear of the area. Law enforcement will detain individuals who violate the curfew,” Bass stated, noting that several arrests have already taken place.

Gomez also mentioned ongoing apprehensions from residents regarding ICE actions.

“I think the issue stems from his initial promise to go after undocumented individuals and those committing crimes here. But now, he seems to be targeting asylum seekers during their court check-ins, which results in their arrest,” Gomez added.