Gambiaj.com – (L.A, California) – President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles without local approval has set off a fierce political clash with California Democrats, who accuse him of stoking chaos to bolster his immigration agenda.

The deployment, ordered in response to protests surrounding raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has become a flashpoint in Trump’s broader fight with liberal California officials and their approach to immigration and public safety.

At the heart of the controversy is California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has vowed to sue the Trump administration, calling the move “illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional.” Newsom said on MSNBC that “Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s putting fuel on this fire,” accusing the president of provoking violence for political gain.

Meanwhile, the White House insists that Trump acted to restore law and order amid what it described as escalating violence in the streets of Los Angeles.

“Gavin Newsom’s feckless leadership is directly responsible for the lawless riots and violent attacks on law enforcement in Los Angeles,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said. “Instead of filing baseless lawsuits meant to score political points with his left-wing base, Newsom should focus on protecting Americans.”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on Sunday reposted images on social media showing masked demonstrators setting cars ablaze and carrying Mexican flags, captioning one post: “Let’s check in on how LAPD’s management of the ‘protests’ is going.”

Another repost from White House official Taylor Budowich depicted a masked protester standing on a car surrounded by flames, captioned simply, “Democrat management.”

Trump’s move comes at a critical political juncture, allowing him to shift the national conversation back to immigration enforcement after weeks of negative headlines, including a feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

The violence in Los Angeles has given Trump and his team a new opportunity to spotlight what they argue is an “invasion” of migrants at the southern border and to push for his signature immigration bill, which includes sweeping funding measures for border security.

“The riots in Los Angeles prove that we desperately need more immigration enforcement personnel and resources,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X, calling for swift Senate passage of the House-passed bill.

The situation has also brought Musk back into Trump’s orbit, with the tech mogul voicing support for the president and condemning the protests and Newsom’s response.

For Trump, the unrest in California is a potent symbol of what he sees as failed Democratic leadership. He has repeatedly lashed out at the state — over everything from transgender sports policies to wildfire management — and has even floated the idea of cutting off federal funding to California in the past.

California Democrats, meanwhile, have urged calm, warning that violence would only serve Trump’s political interests. “Angelenos – don’t engage in violence and chaos. Don’t give the administration what they want,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X.

Trump has not ruled out taking even more aggressive action, suggesting on Sunday that he could invoke the Insurrection Act to federalize the National Guard nationwide if he deems there to be a “serious insurrection.” “We’re going to have troops everywhere,” he said. “We’re not going to let this happen to our country.”

As the standoff deepens, Newsom has warned other states that Trump’s order sets a dangerous precedent. “This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted,” Newsom posted. “He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard. The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing. We’re suing him.”

The legal battle over Trump’s National Guard deployment is expected to intensify in the coming days, as California leaders brace for a broader fight over the limits of presidential power and the future of immigration enforcement in the U.S.

Source: The Hill