President Donald Trump has ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in a dramatic federal response to ongoing protests sparked by recent immigration enforcement raids.
The decision, made without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, marks a rare federal takeover of a state military force during peacetime.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was to “address the lawlessness” in the city, accusing California’s Democratic leadership of failing to maintain order.
“The Trump Administration has a zero tolerance policy for violence, especially when it targets law enforcement,” she said.
Governor Newsom slammed the decision, calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and warning it would only escalate tensions. “This isn’t about public safety — it’s about political spectacle,” he posted on X.
The unrest began after ICE agents arrested over 100 undocumented migrants in a series of high-profile raids across Los Angeles.
Federal officers used tear gas and flash-bangs during standoffs with protesters, many of whom gathered outside a reported federal staging area in the suburb of Paramount.
Footage shared online showed demonstrators clashing with local police, setting fires, throwing fireworks, and blocking roads with shopping carts and cement blocks. Some waved Mexican flags, while others burned U.S. flags — signs of growing outrage within LA’s large Latino population.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said regular military forces at Camp Pendleton are on standby if unrest continues, though legal experts say such deployment would require invoking the rarely used Insurrection Act.
Mayor Karen Bass urged calm, affirming the right to protest while condemning violence. “Fear is real in our communities right now,” she said. “But destruction is not the answer.”
