Protests in California: Trump uses National Guard
US President Donald Trump wants to combat protests against officials from the US immigration authority ICE in the state of California with the help of military security forces. Against the express will of the governor Gavin Newsom, Trump ordered the use of at least 2,000 soldiers of the National Guard to control the situation.
With this step, Newsom stated that the Republican government is deliberately heating up the situation and accepting another escalation. Such a commitment is not the task of the national guard of the state « and will shake the public’s trust, » warned the Democrat. There is no lack of security forces that the federal government simply wanted to stage « a spectacle ». He appealed to the demonstrators of staying peaceful and no pretext to the government.
The protests in the Los Angeles area, which broke out on Friday – and occasionally – were directed against the security forces of the US immigration authority ICE, the migrants arrested without valid papers to deport them. Some demonstrators threw the security forces with stones, among other things. The Trump assumed Ministry of Homeland protection spoke of a massive escalation.
Defense Minister threatens military operation
The soldiers should put an end to « lawlessness » in the Los Angeles area, explained the spokeswoman for the White House, Karoline Leavitt. As commander -in -chief, Trump will ensure that the United States’ laws would be enforced. The official announcement said that the National Guard would be in action for 60 days or as long as the Defense Minister considered it necessary.
Pentagon boss Pete Hegseth announced that if necessary, marine infantry of the armed forces could also be mobilized in California. « They are on a high alert, » he wrote on the X. Newsom platform in horror: The Minister of Defense is threatening to « use soldiers against his own citizens on American soil », he wrote to X. « This is mentally disturbed behavior. »
What is the National Guard and who is it?
In the United States, states normally have control over the national guard. Their commitment on the command of the President against the will of the state is a massive escalation. Mobilization of the regular military inside – as was threatened by Hegseth – would be an even greater rally.
The National Guard is a military reserve unit and part of the US armed forces. Each state has its own national guard, which can be used in forest fires, hurricanes, floods or unrest inside. It is then under the command of the respective governor. If there is a war or national emergencies, the US President can take command. In total, the United States has more than 325,000 national guards.
US senator speaks of « unprecedented » step
One of the two California US senators, Adam Schiff, called the use of the National Guard against the will of the governor « unprecedented ». So that chaos should be donated and an escalation is brought about. He called for an end to violence – there was nothing « what President Trump would like more than violent clashes with demonstrators » in order to justify the use of the military or a form of war law, warned ship of X.
Trump disparages California governor
Immediately before the white house’s explanation, Trump had already let go of a threat: If Governor Newsom and the Mayor of Los Angeles did not make her jobs properly, the government would intervene and solve the problem with « unrest and looting ». Instead of using the governor’s correct last name, Trump described him in his post on the Truth Social platform as a « Newscum » – a pun with the English term « scum », which means « scum » in German.
Photo: Screenshot Truth Social
The disparagement of the democratic governor also indicates the political dimension of the case: Newsom is not only one of the most prominent democrats, he is also considered a possible prospect of the presidential candidacy of his party in the election 2028. And: Newsom rules an enormously economical state with almost 40 million inhabitants – this is more than a tenth of the US population.
Trump, on the other hand, has also won the choice with the promise of mass deportations and likes to staged as a sheriff that takes through hard. The focus on the situation in California could be politically located, because for days he has always had to answer questions about his public dusting with tech painter Elon Musk and is faced with criticism of his tax and budget law.
During Trump’s first term in 2020, after the killing of African American George Floyd, there was mass protests against racism in the United States in a police operation. Even then, Trump reacted with a massive commitment of the security forces, including the national guard of the capital Washington, which is subject to the Federal Government’s command.
Protests since Friday – use of tear gas
The protests in the Los Angeles area had triggered missions of the ICE security forces on Friday. They wanted to arrest migrants without a valid residence permit, the white house spoke of « normal deportation inserts ». The security forces countered the demonstrators in full gear with signs and helmets, and tear gas was also used. According to local media reports, rubber bullets were also used.
America’s old demons
Mayor Karen Bass and the local police distanced themselves from the ICE missions. As usual, they do not want to work with the federal authority in their area of responsibility to enable normal deportations. This is how many city administrations controlled by Democrats behave in the United States – whereas the Republicans want to implement the mass deportations announced by Trump.
« Violent uprising » against state power?
According to the U.S. Ministry of Department, around 1,000 demonstrators attacked ICE officials on Friday. The ministry criticized the local police only after two hours. During the week, 118 foreigners without a valid residence permit were arrested in Los Angeles, including gang members and criminal records.
Justice Minister Pam Bondi warned on X. Anyone who disabled or attack security forces must expect law enforcement. FBI director Kash Patel also threatened to use his agents. Trump’s deputy chief of staff, the hardliner Stephen Miller, even spoke of a « violent uprising » against state violence. He welcomed the National Guard’s commitment and wrote on X: « We will get America back ».
