In a tense late-night phone call on Friday, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding escalating protests against recent immigration raids in Los Angeles. “Get the police in gear,” Trump emphasized, highlighting his urgent concern over the civil unrest that was beginning to surface. Just under 24 hours later, Trump made a historic decision to federalize the National Guard, defying both state and local officials' wishes.
As tensions rose, the Trump administration began contemplating a further escalation of military presence by preparing a battalion of active-duty Marines stationed just outside Los Angeles County, according to a White House official. While no official decision had been made by Monday afternoon regarding their deployment, any potential action would aim to “protect ICE agents” amid ongoing protests that had sometimes turned violent.
The situation escalated due to flash raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the area, triggering widespread unrest. In response to the federalization of the National Guard, Newsom's administration announced plans to sue the Trump administration, and the governor expressed his disdain for Trump’s leadership by labeling his defense secretary a “joke” and calling the president “unhinged.”
The White House reacted strongly to Newsom’s criticism, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinting at the possibility of the governor facing arrest for obstruction. “It is a basic principle in this country that if you break the law, you will face a consequence for that,” Leavitt remarked, asserting that obstruction of federal enforcement could lead to legal repercussions for Newsom.
Tom Homan, the president’s border czar, echoed this sentiment, asserting that no one, including state governors, is above the law. Trump further commented on Newsom’s performance, stating, “He’s done a terrible job… He’s grossly incompetent. Everybody knows.” Despite the veiled threats, the White House reportedly is not actively planning Newsom’s arrest.
Newsom took the president's remarks seriously, condemning them as a sign of authoritarianism. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America,” Newsom stated on social media platform X. Legal experts, including UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky, expressed alarm at the unprecedented nature of such a threat, noting that previous presidents had not resorted to arresting governors over policy disagreements.
Leavitt explained that Trump’s initial decision to deploy the National Guard was made “with the expectation that the deployment would hopefully prevent and deter some of this violence.” However, the situation worsened, with violent protests erupting on Sunday, where some rioters engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement, even after National Guard troops had been deployed.
According to Leavitt, local leaders, including Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, have “handicapped” the Los Angeles Police Department in their efforts to maintain order. She criticized local officials for not allowing the police to collaborate with federal agents to enforce immigration laws and apprehend violent criminals within the city.
Leavitt indicated that all options remain on the table for the Trump administration, including the possible invocation of the Insurrection Act, which would allow the military to engage in local law enforcement. On Monday, Trump referred to some protestors as insurrectionists, suggesting a potential shift in strategy.
The president's order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to protect federal buildings in Los Angeles allows for a 60-day deployment. While Leavitt did not specify how long the operation might last, she indicated that it would continue until the violence associated with the protests subsides.
“The president wants to solve the problem, and that means creating an environment where citizens can peacefully protest,” Leavitt stated, emphasizing that the administration supports the fundamental right to peaceful assembly while condemning violent actions that disrupt lawful protests.
