On Monday, President Trump remarked that local authorities seemed hesitant to take action amid protests focused on immigration in Los Angeles. He defended his choice to deploy the National Guard without needing local approval.
“I’ve read that many people in Los Angeles appreciated the deployment of our great National Guard. They made a significant difference in addressing the issues there,” he stated.
When questioned about why he believed Governor Newsom’s request for National Guard assistance was unnecessary, Trump pointed out that such action was justified during the protests in 2020. He referred to the governor as “incompetent.”
“The main difference now is having an incompetent governor,” he mentioned. “Without our involvement, without the security forces, we could have sent even more if needed.”
Trump and his administration have criticized California’s Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials for what they view as an ineffective response to the protests associated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. In response, Newsom announced plans for California to sue the Trump administration over the National Guard’s deployment.
Earlier the same day, Trump hinted at supporting Newsom’s arrest after the governor suggested that border official Tom Homan take action.
Regarding the crime that might lead to such an arrest, Trump quipped, “I think his main crime is running for governor.”
Furthermore, Trump asserted that federal forces would firmly respond to protesters who spit at them in Los Angeles. He declared, “‘If they spit, we’ll hit,’ referring to the unrest that has been attributed to what he called the Gavin Newscam-inspired riots. He emphasized that this kind of disrespect would not be tolerated.
On Sunday, he told reporters, “If they spit at us, we hit back. I made it clear: no one will spit on our police officers or troops.”
White House officials have pointed to images of violence, including a burning car and clashes with law enforcement, to underline their claim that the situation in Los Angeles has spiraled out of control.
They argue that Trump’s intervention was timely in restoring law and order, claiming that violence had already been escalating before he stepped in. Conversely, California Democrats protested Trump’s actions, urging residents to refrain from violence and alleging that his maneuvers were designed to provoke the National Guard.
