Tensions Erupt in LA as Trump Deploys Troops Over Protests

Los Angeles — President Donald Trump has taken the rare step of placing California’s National Guard under federal control, deploying 2,000 Guardsmen to Los Angeles in response to escalating protests over recent immigration raids. The move has sparked sharp backlash from state leaders, with California Governor Gavin Newsom calling it “purposefully inflammatory” and a threat to public trust.

The deployment comes after two days of unrest in and around Los Angeles, where federal immigration enforcement actions led to mass detentions of undocumented migrants, drawing large crowds in protest. Tensions boiled over in the suburb of Paramount, a largely Latino neighborhood, where demonstrators clashed with federal agents, local law enforcement, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.

Videos circulating online showed chaotic scenes: flash-bang grenades exploding, clouds of tear gas engulfing protesters, and a car engulfed in flames at a busy intersection. One viral clip showed a man in a motorcycle helmet hurling rocks at a speeding federal vehicle. Protesters were also seen filming agents with their phones and chanting anti-ICE slogans. Some waved Mexican flags, while others burned the American flag, according to a leading news paper.

Saturday’s demonstrations followed high-profile immigration raids on Friday, when armed and masked federal agents stormed several workplaces in different parts of LA, detaining dozens of undocumented workers. These actions drew immediate crowds and resulted in hours-long standoffs. The situation escalated further when protestors converged on a federal facility reportedly being used as a staging point by ICE agents.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the deployment late Saturday. “President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” she said, directly blaming California’s Democratic leadership for the unrest. “The Trump Administration has a zero-tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when it’s aimed at law enforcement officers doing their jobs.”

The National Guard, typically reserved for natural disasters such as wildfires or floods, is rarely used for crowd control during civil unrest. Its last major deployment in Los Angeles was in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd.

Governor Newsom, a vocal critic of Trump, criticized the decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “This move is deliberately inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,” he wrote. “LA authorities are fully capable of responding to local law enforcement needs. We are in active coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need for additional support. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added fuel to the fire by suggesting that active-duty military units could also be deployed if the unrest continues. “If violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will be mobilized — they are on high alert,” he posted on social media.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has aggressively pursued his campaign pledge to clamp down on illegal immigration, repeatedly referring to undocumented migrants as “monsters” and “animals.” His administration’s recent raids and hardline rhetoric have only intensified the divide between federal and state authorities.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the fear spreading among city residents. “Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but let me be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable,” she said on X.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that multiple arrests had been made following Friday’s disturbances. “You bring chaos, and we’ll bring handcuffs. Law and order will prevail,” he wrote online.

Saturday’s protests saw roads blocked with overturned shopping carts and cement slabs, as demonstrators attempted to impede federal vehicle movement. At one point, a crowd surrounded a U.S. Marshals Service bus as it exited a freeway, prompting authorities to close multiple on- and off-ramps to prevent more people from joining the protest or accessing the highway.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described the protests as “an insurrection against the laws and sovereignty of the United States,” signaling the administration’s refusal to back down.

The protests have centered in Paramount, a suburb of about 50,000 residents, where 82 percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census. With Los Angeles being one of the most diverse cities in the United States, the latest developments have drawn national attention, reviving debates over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and federal overreach.

As tensions remain high, it is unclear how long the National Guard will remain in place or whether further military deployments will follow. What is certain, however, is that the conflict between California’s Democratic leadership and Trump’s Republican administration has reached new heights — with immigrant communities caught in the middle.

Team Maverick.