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Governor Newsom Responds to Protests and National Guard Deployment

In the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to send National Guard troops to Los Angeles, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed his commitment to addressing the situation. He stated that he had convened with local and state officials to manage the fallout from Trump's actions. The unrest began after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids throughout the city, resulting in the arrest of numerous undocumented immigrants. In response to the protests that followed, Trump dispatched 2,000 National Guard members to restore order.

Newsom shared on X, "I am meeting with local and state officials to strategize on maintaining peace in Los Angeles. Together, we are working to address the chaos created by Trump and ensure the safety of our communities." Earlier, California initiated legal action against the Trump administration, seeking a court ruling to deem the National Guard's deployment unconstitutional and to prevent any further troop movements, as reported by a media outlet.

In reaction to the lawsuit, a White House representative criticized Governor Newsom, suggesting he should focus on prosecuting what they termed "anti-ICE rioters" instead of pursuing legal action against the administration. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly remarked, "It’s unfortunate that Newsom is more concerned with public perception than with supporting law enforcement and holding offenders accountable. As the President noted, Newsom should express gratitude for the restoration of law and order."

During a press briefing, California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned Trump's decision to federalize the state's National Guard, labeling it as "unnecessary, counterproductive, and unlawful." Bonta pointed out that this marks California's 24th lawsuit against the Trump administration in just 19 weeks. He contended that Trump's directive misuses federal power, infringing upon the 10th Amendment and federal law, as it was issued without Governor Newsom's consent and contrary to local law enforcement's preferences, according to a media report.

Bonta emphasized that the order "misused federal authority and violated the 10th Amendment and federal law," asserting that it was enacted without Governor Newsom's approval and against local law enforcement's wishes. He also noted that the request to rescind the deployment was ignored. In a post on X, Governor Newsom accused Trump of instilling fear and attempting to commandeer a state militia, thereby violating the U.S. Constitution.