LA Protests: The protests in Los Angeles intensified on the third day after US President Donald Trump deployed troops of National Guard on Sunday. While riot police had multiple clashes with the anti-ICE protestors, they were many who took the mayhem to the next level by setting self-driving cars on fire and even shutting down a major freeway.
Following the unrest, Trump took to Truth Social and called LA “once a great American City” which he claimed now has been “invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals”.
Trump said that violent mobs were attacking federal agents in an attempt to stop deportation efforts. He said these actions have only strengthened his administration’s determination. “”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,” he wrote.
Trump announced that he has instructed key officials — including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to take all necessary steps to “liberate” Los Angeles from what he called a “migrant invasion” and “put an end to these Migrant riots”. He vowed that order would be restored and “illegals will be expelled”. He added that LA would be “set free”.
California Governor urged Trump to remove National Guard troops
California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a letter to Donald Trump on Sunday afternoon, urged the removal of National Guard troops from the state, arguing that their presence was worsening tensions in Los Angeles, reported Associated Press. He called the move a major violation of state authority.
Trump defended the deployment, saying it was needed because leaders like Newsom had failed to control ongoing protests against immigration agents. This marked a rare instance—possibly the first in decades—where a state’s National Guard was activated without the governor’s approval, signaling a major escalation in the federal government’s crackdown on those opposing mass deportations.