Gov. Newsom blasts Trump’s deployment of National Guard to LA as ‘purposefully inflammatory’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday denounced President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to quell pro-immigrant demonstrators in the Los Angeles area, calling the action “purposefully inflammatory.”
The Democrat’s remarks came after Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, told Fox News that the administration planned to send National Guard troops to the area. The White House said Trump signed a presidential memorandum deploying 2,000 troops “to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.”
In a statement, Newsom said Trump was moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers, which the governor said would “only escalate tensions” after protesters confronted immigration agents making raids on local businesses. Trump’s move came without Newsom’s signature, presumably by invoking Title 10, the legal basis for activating and mobilizing the Guard.
In a social media post, Trump said, “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, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!”
The standoff in Paramount, a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, marks the second consecutive day of clashes in the region over high-profile immigration raids. At least 44 people were arrested on Friday on suspicion of immigration violations.
Among those arrested was the president of the labor union SEIU California, David Huerta, whose injuries during his detainment required brief hospitalization and set off a wave of condemnation from California Democratic officials, including Newsom. A video of Huerta’s arrest showed officers knocking the labor union leader to the ground. [Continue reading…]