Trump and Newsom clash over LA protests: The President claims federal troops quelled unrest, while the Governor alleges they escalated tensions. Contrasting narratives emerge as the two politicians dispute their roles in managing the Los Angeles demonstrations following anti-immigration raids and a city-wide curfew
Los Angeles Protests: Federal Troops Deploy Tear Gas, Non-Lethal Rounds at June 8th Demonstration. National Guard and DHS officers clashed with demonstrators near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown LA, sparking a political debate between President Trump and Governor Newsom over the federal response. (Photo: Jay L Clendenin/Getty Images)
Trump claims credit for restoring order in Los Angeles, asserting on Truth Social that the National Guard and Marines prevented a major crime wave. He contrasts this with Governor Newsom's claim that the military presence escalated protests, sparking a political clash over the handling of recent demonstrations
Despite President Trump's claim of calming Los Angeles protests with federal troops, including Marines, no Marines had been deployed as of Thursday morning. The Department of Defense previously announced 700 Marines completed training for protest monitoring and would deploy within 48 hours. This contradicts Governor Newsom's assertion that the military presence escalated the demonstrations
Trump claims credit for quelling Los Angeles protests, attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom ("NewScum") for alleged incompetence. He asserts that federal troops prevented a major crime wave, while Newsom blames their presence for escalating the demonstrations. Trump insists Newsom should be thankful for the intervention, instead of criticizing his handling of the situation
Trump claims credit for quelling Los Angeles protests sparked by his anti-immigration raids, contrasting sharply with Governor Newsom's assertion that the National Guard's deployment escalated tensions. Following a Tuesday curfew imposed by Mayor Bass, the demonstrations subsided, prompting Trump's boast of restoring order, while Newsom criticizes the federal response and its impact
Newsom, however, alleged the presence of National Guard troops Trump sent to Los Angeles earlier this week only attracted more protesters and said the city “had to use our own law enforcement” to defend the National Guard, he told The New York Times in a podcast interview aired Thursday.
Newsom and Trump have also given contradicting accounts of their communication throughout the week. Newsom called Trump a “stone-cold liar,” alleging Trump never mentioned the possibility of deploying the National Guard in a phone call Saturday, as Trump claimed. Newsom also disputed Trump’s claim that he called the governor Monday.
A federal court hearing over whether Trump is allowed to deploy troops to the LA protests is set for Thursday. Newsom’s administration filed an emergency motion asking the court to block the deployment of about 2,800 service members, including 2,100 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines.
Trump and Newsom have clashed throughout the week as Newsom has accused Trump of “perpetuating a unified assault on American traditions,” by sending in military troops, he said in televised speech Tuesday. Trump’s deployment of the National Guard without approval of a state governor is largely unprecedented in modern times. Los Angeles police arrested dozens of people for violating the 8 p.m. PT curfew imposed this week in what Bass said was an effort to deter bad actors, while the National Guard also said it briefly detained some protesters. The protests are widely viewed as a major moment for Newsom’s political future as he’s a top prospect for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
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