Los Angeles became a flashpoint this weekend as President Donald Trump deployed the California National Guard in response to escalating protests against immigration enforcement. The move, fiercely condemned by California Governor Gavin Newsom as an “alarming abuse of power,” found a staunch defender in House Speaker Mike Johnson, who lauded the President’s actions as “real leadership.”
The White House announced Trump’s Saturday evening memorandum, authorizing up to 2,000 National Guardsmen to quell “lawlessness” in California.
Protests, sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, erupted Friday, leading to clashes, arrests, and a citywide “Tactical Alert” for the Los Angeles Police Department.
READ: DHS Unveils Details Of Criminal Alien Arrests In Los Angeles
Governor Newsom blasted the federal intervention as “purposefully inflammatory,” warning it would “only escalate tensions” and constituted a federal “takeover” of the state’s guard. Twenty-two Democratic governors echoed Newsom’s outrage, decrying the deployment as an “alarming abuse of power” and a violation of their state’s authority over its National Guard.
But for Speaker Johnson, Trump’s decision was not just justified, but necessary. Speaking to ABC News on Sunday, Johnson declared, “I think the president did exactly what he needed to do. That is real leadership and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it.”
Johnson directly criticized California’s Democratic leadership.
“Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or an unwillingness to do what is necessary, so the president stepped in,” he asserted, highlighting the growing partisan divide on immigration enforcement and civil unrest.
While the White House initially cited a deployment of up to 2,000 troops, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed Sunday that approximately 300 soldiers from the California National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) were on the ground in Los Angeles.
READ: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Rips Newsom’s “Bad Decisions,” Defends National Guard Deployment
“@TheCalGuard 79th IBCT has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They are conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel,” wrote US Northern Command on X.
Their mission: “safety and protection of federal property & personnel.”
President Trump, meanwhile, took to Truth Social to demand his administration “liberate Los Angeles from the migrant invasion,” accusing “violent insurrectionist mobs” of attacking federal agents. He vowed to restore “order” and expel “Illegals.”
Both President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at the possibility of deploying active-duty Marines if the unrest persists.
READ: ABC News Suspends Terry Moran Following “Unhinged” Post Aimed At Stephen Miller
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
