Washington DC [US], June 8 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised the National Guard’s handling of protests in Los Angeles and announced a new ban on masks at demonstrations, following two days of violent clashes and unrest linked to immigration enforcement raids.
“Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes, and unrest,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social. He criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, labeling them “incompetent” and blaming them for failing to control the situation. Trump further stated, “These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why???”
The president’s statement came after he signed a presidential memorandum authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles under Title 10 authority. This move places the federal government, not the state, in direct command of the troops, bypassing Governor Newsom.
Governor Newsom responded sharply on social media, calling Trump’s actions “purposefully inflammatory.” In a post on X, he wrote, “Trump is deploying the National Guard not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle. Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”
The federal deployment comes amid mounting tensions following immigration enforcement raids that swept across several neighborhoods in Los Angeles, particularly affecting predominantly Latino communities. According to CNN, dozens of individuals were detained during raids that began on Friday, prompting widespread protests and confrontations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The Department of Defense has since mobilized the National Guard to support federal law enforcement in the region. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described the protests as “violent mob assaults” in a post on X, claiming the demonstrations were orchestrated to block the removal of “criminal illegal aliens.”
“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,” Hegseth wrote. He also warned that active-duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton are on high alert and may be deployed if violence continues.
Trump’s decision to ban face coverings at protests sparked fresh controversy, with critics arguing it infringes on civil liberties and the right to protest safely and anonymously. However, administration officials argue that banning masks will deter violent agitators and improve public safety.
As protests continue to escalate, the situation in Los Angeles highlights the deep divisions between federal immigration enforcement strategies and local and state-level governance, raising questions about civil rights, federal overreach, and the militarization of public order. (ANI)
About The Author
