US President Donald Trump authorised the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops on the second day of immigration protests in Los Angeles, California, following violent clashes between demonstrators and Border Patrol officers. The escalating unrest prompted swift federal intervention as local authorities struggled to regain control.
Face masks banned during protests
Taking to Truth Social, Trump blamed what he called the “incompetence” of California Governor Gavin Newscum and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of allowing the protests to spiral out of control. “These Radical Left protests by instigators and often paid troublemakers will not be tolerated,” Trump wrote, announcing a ban on face masks during protests.
He praised the National Guard for bringing the situation “under control” after what he described as “two days of violence, clashes, and unrest.” Trump also used the moment to revisit previous criticisms of Mayor Bass, referencing her handling of the devastating LA fires and her opposition to immigration enforcement.
What led to the National Guard deployment?
The deployment order was signed on June 8, following a confrontation between federal immigration agents and over 500 protesters in downtown Los Angeles. Clashes quickly erupted as Border Patrol agents in riot gear used smoke bombs to disperse the crowd. The White House later characterized the chaos as a “violent insurrection,” vowing harsh penalties for those interfering with federal law enforcement. “Federal law is supreme, and it will be enforced,” said a senior White House official.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed the administration’s firm position in a public post, issuing a warning to demonstrators. “You will not stop us or slow us down,” she said. “ICE agents will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
President Trump, in his post announcing the troop deployment, reiterated his criticism of state leadership: “If Governor Gavin Newscum of California and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles can’t do their jobs—which everyone knows they can’t—then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem,” he wrote.