California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply criticized President Trump for deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without consultation, accusing him of “fanning the flames” amid anti-immigration protests. The move—unprecedented since 1965—has triggered fierce state-federal tensions and raised constitutional questions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has denounced President Donald Trump’s order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County, calling it a deliberate escalation that “fanned the flames” of ongoing anti-immigration protests. He highlighted that the move was made without his approval, marking the first federal nationalization of California’s Guard since 1965.
Presidential Overreach?
The deployment, executed under Title 10, places these troops under direct federal command—bypassing traditional state authority. Newsom asserted that Trump “manufactured a crisis and is inflaming conditions,” insisting the state and local agencies were capable of managing unrest without federal intervention.
Newsom also plans to sue the Trump administration over the deployment, labeling it “illegal and unconstitutional” and asserting governors must retain command over their state’s National Guard.
On-Ground Unrest
The deployment follows a surge in anti-ICE protests triggered by immigration raids targeting undocumented individuals in neighborhoods like Paramount and Compton. Clashes with law enforcement have included tear gas, flash-bangs, rubber bullets, and street fires. Dozens of protesters and several officers have been injured, and over 27 arrests made across multiple cities.
Despite the unrest, Newsom emphasized that LAPD and state forces remain in control, and federal troops would exacerbate tensions rather than restore order.
Image source:-timesofindia.indiatimes
Historic & Legal Context
This marks one of the few times the federal government has overridden state authority to send National Guard troops on American soil. The last comparable event was in 1965, during civil rights clashes in Alabama. Analysts, like Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck, warn that while Title 10 allows troop deployment for federal protection, bypassing governors is “significant and politically inflammatory.”
National Reaction
The deployment has sharply divided national leaders. Democrats and civil rights groups decry it as “purposefully inflammatory” and authoritarian. Senator Bernie Sanders warned it pushes the U.S. toward authoritarianism, citing threats to democratic norms.
Meanwhile, Republicans argue local authorities were overwhelmed, praising Trump as decisive. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Guard’s mission is to protect federal personnel and facilities amid “violent mobs.”
