Tensions flared along partisan lines as political leaders debated the federal government’s handling of recent protests. The Trump administration authorized the deployment of the National Guard in response to demonstrations in Los Angeles, despite clear opposition from California Democrats.
Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the move, accusing former President Donald Trump of trying to provoke unrest. “Trump is sending 2,000 National Guard troops into LA County — not because there’s a real need, but to create a crisis,” Newsom posted on X. “He wants chaos so he can justify more crackdowns, more fear, and more control.” He also urged demonstrators to remain nonviolent.
Trump’s decision to send in federal forces clashed directly with Newsom’s refusal, a rare situation in which a president overrides a governor’s wishes. Experts note that while both federal and state governments have the authority to mobilize the Guard, it’s uncommon for the federal government to do so against a state’s objections.
Several Democratic lawmakers from California denounced the move as unnecessarily provocative and potentially dangerous. They warned that rather than calming the situation, the federal response could increase hostilities.
The Trump administration defended its actions, calling the protests a threat from “left-wing radicals” and asserting that federal intervention was needed to restore order. Meanwhile, Democrats argued that the approach would only heighten emotions and worsen the crisis. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added to the controversy, saying active-duty Marines could be brought in if violence escalates further.
Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Los Angeles, echoed Newsom’s concerns, saying Trump’s federal activation of the California National Guard was “intentionally inflammatory.” Representative Nanette Barragán, also a Los Angeles-area Democrat, criticized the president for stepping in without the state’s consent.
“We didn’t request this. We don’t need this,” Barragán said on CNN’s State of the Union. “Trump is escalating tensions in a situation that’s already volatile because of his immigration policies.”
On Saturday, demonstrations over immigration enforcement turned confrontational. Some protesters hurled objects, prompting police to respond with pepper balls and flash-bangs. Videos captured instances of looting and a vehicle being set ablaze. The protests began in response to immigration raids, a central part of Trump’s domestic agenda.
The political backlash followed party lines, with Republicans condemning the protests and Democrats opposing the federal reaction. Trump, on his platform Truth Social, praised the National Guard’s efforts in Los Angeles — despite the fact that, as Newsom noted, the troops had not yet arrived at the time of the post.
