Los Angeles Mayor Celebrates Troop Withdrawal
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took to social media on Tuesday to express her joy after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of thousands of California State Guard troops who had been deployed to manage anti-ICE protests.
Bass referred to the exit of 2,000 troops as a “big victory” for the unity in Los Angeles, stating, “They are leaving! They are retreating! We stood strong! We protested peace!” Her remarks emphasized a sense of resilience from the community.
Some observers pointed out that the troops’ departure was linked to the success of efforts to end the riots.
Despite the withdrawal, 2,000 soldiers remain in the city, as protests that were initially “peaceful” led to riots against immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officials and local law enforcement.
Local news outlet KTLA reported:
Federal officials from the Pentagon confirmed that half of the 4,000 federal members of the California State Guard deployed in Los Angeles have been released, but 2,000 security guards and 700 active-duty Marines remain in the city.
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Upon their arrival, the military was assigned to protect federal buildings as well as federal immigration agents during enforcement operations.
The state challenged the Trump administration in court, with a federal judge initially ruling that the president acted unlawfully by federalizing the National Guard without a request from Governor Gavin Newsom. However, the Appeals Court later overturned this decision, restoring military control to Trump while the legal battle continues.
Bass has asserted that violence will persist as long as ICE operations continue and has called for these actions to stop. Meanwhile, federal policies remain unchanged, with the Trump administration seeking a temporary restraining order against ICE activities. There’s a belief that a lower court’s order may be overturned soon.
The tendency to celebrate setbacks as victories has historical roots in radical movements, although Bass has distanced herself from such labels. Notably, she has visited communist Cuba multiple times and referred to the late Fidel Castro in a respectful manner upon his death in 2016.
Polls indicate that her popularity has declined, and many registered voters across the nation seem to support the use of Trump’s authority to address the riots and prevent their spread to other cities.
