As unrest continues to grip Los Angeles, California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops to the city, describing it as a “brazen abuse of power.”
The governor made the remarks in a video statement, even as he acknowledged the growing violence and confirmed over 220 arrests tied to anti-ICE protests.
Newsom addressed the media on Tuesday, stating that individuals engaged in violent acts during demonstrations would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The violent riots were sparked by immigration enforcement operations targeting criminal illegal aliens.
Chaos has been rapidly spreading across the city, including attacks on law enforcement and widespread property damage.
While attempting to suggest most rioters “protested peacefully,” Newsom turned his attention to President Trump.
He accused the president of choosing “escalation,” “more force,” and “theatrics over public safety.”
In recent days, Trump ordered thousands of National Guard troops and several hundred active-duty Marines into the Los Angeles area to help restore order and protect federal personnel.
The decision drew immediate backlash from California Democrats, who argued that federal involvement was not only unwelcome but dangerous.
“These are the men and women trained for foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement,” Newsom said.
“We honor their service. We honor their bravery.
“But we do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces.
“Not in LA, not in California, not anywhere.”
Newsom went on to claim that federal agents were detaining illegal aliens far beyond Trump’s stated goals.
“Trump is pulling a military dragnet all across Los Angeles, well beyond his stated intent to just go after violent and serious criminals,” he said.
“His agents are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers, and seamstresses.
“That’s just weakness,” he added.
“Weakness masquerading as strength.”
However, Newsom did not provide any evidence to support the allegations.
Federal immigration officials have confirmed that they have arrested multiple criminal illegal aliens, included murderers, rapists, and child traffickers.
Officials described those arrested during the operations as “the worst of he worst.”
The governor accused the Trump administration of prioritizing political theatrics over real safety.
“Donald Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities.
“They’re traumatizing our communities.
“And that seems to be the entire point,” Newsom said.
Despite growing public concerns over safety and order, Newsom has pushed back hard against federal involvement.
He revealed that he sent a formal letter on Sunday demanding that the Trump administration withdraw National Guard troops and return them to state control.
California also filed a lawsuit and sought an emergency court order to block what it called an “unlawful military engagement” in civilian law enforcement.
“Just yesterday, we filed a legal challenge to Donald Trump’s reckless deployment of American troops to a major American city,” Newsom said.
“Today, we sought an emergency court order to stop the use of the American military to engage in law enforcement activities across Los Angeles.”
The governor claimed that Trump could threaten civil liberties across the country.
He continued by pushing more false claims, alleging that ICE is targeting people over their “skin color” rather than their criminal records.
“If some people can be snatched off the streets without a warrant based only on suspicion or skin color, then nobody is safe,” Newsom alleged.
He then accused Trump of exploiting division for political gain.
“Trump and his loyalists, they thrive on division because it allows them to take more power and exert even more control,” he said.
“And by the way, Trump, he’s not opposed to lawlessness and violence as long as it serves him.
“What more evidence do we need than January 6th?”
Newsom also addressed recent remarks by former ICE director and current border czar Tom Homan.
Homan had suggested Newsom should be arrested for interfering with federal immigration efforts—an idea that Trump appeared to support.
Newsom responded, “He’s calling for a sitting governor to be arrested for no other reason than, in his own words, for getting elected.”
The governor previously dared Homan to act on his threat, saying, “Arrest me” and “come and get me, tough guy.”
In his closing remarks, Newsom claimed that Trump’s alleged aggression in California is likely to be a preview of actions taken in other states.
“When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation,” he said.
“This is about all of us. This is about you.
“California may be first, but it clearly will not end here.
“Other states are next. Democracy is next.
“Democracy is under assault before our eyes.
“This moment we have feared has arrived. He’s taking a wrecking ball, a wrecking ball to our Founding Fathers’ historic project.”
Newsom urged protesters to remain peaceful, stating:
“If you exercise your First Amendment rights, please, please do it peacefully.
“I know many of you are feeling deep anxiety, stress, and fear, but I want you to know that you are the antidote to that fear and that anxiety.
“What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty, your silence to be complicit in this moment.
“Do not give in to him.”
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