Trump wields little-used law to deploy National Guard to LA riots despite Gov. Newsom's protests
Share and Follow

President Trump has commanded the California National Guard to protect Los Angeles from the protestors opposing ICE, despite the strong disapproval from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass.

It’s the first time in 60 years that the commander-in-chief deployed a state’s National Guard without the governor’s blessing, and members of the Trump administration are saying the move is justified because the protests represent a “violent insurrection” against the country.

“This is a violent insurrection,” White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller posted Saturday night.

Vice President JD Vance also used the word in describing the riots: “Insurrectionists carrying foreign flags are attacking immigration enforcement officers, while one half of America’s political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil,” he said on X.

California Democrats seethed over the rare move from a US president. The last time the National Guard was federalized in Los Angeles was in 1992 over the Rodney King riots, when the president had the state’s backing.

“The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves,” Newsom said on X.

The rarely used power stems from ”10 U.S.C. 12406,” part of the US Code on Armed Services that allows the federal government to mobilize the National Guard in the event of “a rebellion, or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”

“The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” Newsom added in another X post.

“Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”

Bass, who previously put out a statement blasting the ICE arrests of illegal migrants in Los Angeles, said she tried to convince Trump’s border czar Tom Homan not to put the National Guard on the streets.

“I’m very concerned about the potential civil unrest if there was federal intervention,” she told KNX radio.

But Trump rebuked California’s leaders over the riots in a Truth Social post in the wee Sunday morning hours.

“We have an incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) who were, as usual (just look at how they handled the fires, and now their VERY SLOW PERMITTING disaster. Federal permitting is complete!), unable to … handle the task,” he wrote.

President Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1965, was the last commander in chief to federalize a state’s National Guard without the governor’s OK. In that instance, the troops were deployed to protect civil rights protesters in Alabama.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Saturday that the National Guard deployment was justified because the protests were interfering with ICE agents who were trying to combat a “dangerous invasion” that was spurred by “foreign terrorist organizations” — referencing the Mexican traffic cartels that have been designated terror groups by the Trump administration.

“The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK,” he wrote.

He added the US Marines from Camp Pendleton in San Diego were being stood up for possible deployment.

Newsom called the possibility of using active duty troops against American citizens, “deranged.”

“Deranged = allowing your city to burn & law enforcement to be attacked,” Hegseth shot back.

Meanwhile, Homan told NBC News that “someone is going to lose their life” in the protests and suggested that Newsom and Bass could be referred to the Justice Department for criminal charges over their handling of the riots.

National Guard troops were seen arriving in Los Angeles County earlier in the day on Sunday.

Newsom dredged up an old clip of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem warning former President Joe Biden against federalizing the National Guard to prevent Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) from using the troops to secure the border.

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), whose congressional district encompasses Paramount, claimed that local law enforcement has the situation “under control” and doesn’t need assistance from the National Guard.

“I have spoken to the sheriffs on the ground, who have said they have things under control, there is no need for the National Guard, they have the manpower that they need,” she told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.

“This is really just an escalation of the president coming into California. We haven’t asked for the help. We don’t need the help. This is him escalating it, causing tensions to rise,” she continued. “It’s only going to make things worse.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Nathan Chasing Horse, right, talks to his attorney Craig Mueller during his trial on charges of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Trial Date Approaches for ‘Dances with Wolves’ Actor Nathan Chasing Horse in Child Sexual Abuse Case

The trial of Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in “Dances…
Where are The Thorn Birds cast now?

The Current Lives of The Thorn Birds Cast Members

The 1980s brought us “The Thorn Birds,” a miniseries that captivated audiences…
James Patterson, another teen charged in violent sexual assault recorded in Naperville Walgreens bathroom on Ogden Avenue: police

Teen Charged Alongside James Patterson in Disturbing Naperville Walgreens Bathroom Assault, Police Report

In a disturbing incident in Naperville, Illinois, two teenage boys face charges…
Tennessee Highway Patrol debunks viral claims protester was struck by trooper vehicle

Fact Check: Tennessee Highway Patrol Clears the Air on Viral Protester Incident

Dashcam footage has surfaced showing a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer deftly maneuvering…
Son, 19, who was sole survivor in father's murder-suicide rampage dies unexpectedly

Tragic Twist: Sole Survivor of Father’s Murder-Suicide Rampage Dies at 19

A 19-year-old man, who survived a tragic murder-suicide orchestrated by his father…
'We do not support this': Fruit Cove neighbors protest Daily's gas station proposal

Fruit Cove Residents Rally Against Proposed Daily’s Gas Station: Community Voices Concerns

Residents of Fruit Cove are raising concerns over a proposed Daily’s gas…
Backlash against first autistic Barbie for 'reinforcing stereotypes'

Controversy Arises Over First Autistic Barbie Amid Concerns of Stereotype Reinforcement

Mattel’s introduction of its first-ever autistic Barbie has sparked controversy, with critics…
Cuba’s president defiant, says no negotiations scheduled as Trump moves to choke off oil lifeline

Cuban President Stands Firm as Trump Administration Intensifies Oil Sanctions

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly announced on Monday that his government is…