California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a Monday post that California will sue President Trump, saying he "illegally acted" to federalize the National Guard during protests against federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to curb unrest over immigration raids. Trump repeatedly criticised Newsom and other California officials' handling of the protests - the White House says he "rightfully stepped in to restore law and order".
The action is in response to the administration's extraordinary deployment of the National Guard to confront immigration protesters who took to the streets in Los Angeles. “Commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC on Sunday.
Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats have argued Trump's deployment of the National Guard was an unnecessary escalation, while Trump administration officials have railed against their leadership.
ALSO READ: Los Angeles protest: Journalist shot at during live broadcast in harrowing moment caught on camera
Reacting to the deployment of National Guards in riot-hit California, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that it was a great decision to send National Guards to deal with violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated, he wrote.
"The very incompetent “Governor,” Gavin Newscum, and “Mayor,” Karen Bass, should be saying, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.” Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are “peaceful protests.” Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know. We will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," his post read.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were "overwhelmed" by the remaining protesters, noting that known agitators—individuals who routinely appear at demonstrations to incite unrest—were among them.
Over the weekend, law enforcement arrested several dozen individuals. One was taken into custody on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at officers, and another for driving a motorcycle into a police line. That same afternoon, Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Trump urging him to withdraw the Guard, describing the deployment as a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”
While in Los Angeles meeting with local officials and law enforcement, Newsom addressed the demonstrators, warning that acts of violence or property destruction would lead to arrest and ultimately serve Trump's agenda.
“Trump is fueling chaos and provoking violence,” Newsom said. “Remain peaceful. Stay focused. Don’t hand him the excuse he wants.”
ALSO READ: Trump's ICE war spills onto streets: Where's the US headed?
This deployment marked what appears to be the first instance in decades where the National Guard was activated in a state without its governor's consent—an aggressive move aimed at curbing resistance to the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
McDonnell also rejected Trump administration claims that the LAPD failed to support federal agencies when protests erupted following a series of immigration raids on Friday. He insisted the department responded promptly and had received no prior notice of the raids.
Newsom has consistently maintained that California authorities are capable of handling the situation. He criticized Trump for prematurely celebrating the Guard's deployment on social media—before troops had even arrived—and told MSNBC that the president never mentioned sending in the Guard during their Friday phone call. He bluntly called Trump a “stone cold liar.”
The National Guard was deployed after two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles and spread on Saturday to Paramount—a predominantly Latino city south of LA—and neighboring Compton.
On Friday, federal agents arrested several immigrants at various locations, including LA’s fashion district and a Home Depot parking lot. The following day, agents were seen staging outside a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, prompting protesters to gather in anticipation of another raid. However, federal officials later clarified that no enforcement activity took place at that location.
By the end of the week, immigration-related arrests in the Los Angeles area had surpassed 100, according to federal authorities. In addition, numerous demonstrators were detained during the protests, including a well-known union leader accused of obstructing law enforcement operations.
The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that the National Guard was activated without a governor’s consent—when President Lyndon B. Johnson dispatched troops to protect civil rights marchers in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Trump Vows 'Very Strong Law and Order'
On Saturday, President Donald Trump invoked a federal statute permitting him to deploy military forces in cases of “rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” He authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops.
Speaking to reporters Sunday in Morristown, New Jersey, before boarding Air Force One, Trump claimed there were “violent people” in Los Angeles and warned, “they're not going to get away with it.”
Sunday marked the third—and most intense—day of protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region. Demonstrations erupted across several downtown blocks and a few other locations, fueled by the arrival of roughly 300 National Guard troops, which triggered fear and outrage among many locals.
As night fell, authorities declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, prompting many protesters to leave. But some remained behind makeshift barricades, throwing objects at officers. Others hurled concrete chunks, rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol units stationed on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. At one point, officers were forced to take cover beneath an overpass.
On Saturday, Trump signed a memorandum calling in the National Guard — despite opposition from the state's and the city's Democratic leadership. Newsom, after saying Sunday that the Golden State would be taking Trump to court, wrote in a Monday X post that the president had "flamed the fires."
ALSO READ: California unrest: How Los Angeles immigration protests turned ugly after citywide ICE operations
He added, "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. Trump's order cited "[n]umerous incidents of violence and disorder" and "violent protests" but did not specifically mention California or the Los Angeles area.
"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 in a statement provided to Axios.
Jackson continued, "Instead of filing baseless lawsuits meant to score political points with his left-wing base, Newsom should focus on protecting Americans by restoring law and order to his state."
(With inputs from AP)
The action is in response to the administration's extraordinary deployment of the National Guard to confront immigration protesters who took to the streets in Los Angeles. “Commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC on Sunday.
Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats have argued Trump's deployment of the National Guard was an unnecessary escalation, while Trump administration officials have railed against their leadership.
ALSO READ: Los Angeles protest: Journalist shot at during live broadcast in harrowing moment caught on camera
Reacting to the deployment of National Guards in riot-hit California, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that it was a great decision to send National Guards to deal with violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated, he wrote.
"The very incompetent “Governor,” Gavin Newscum, and “Mayor,” Karen Bass, should be saying, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.” Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are “peaceful protests.” Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know. We will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," his post read.
Why were National Guards deployed?
The National Guard was deployed with the specific aim of protecting federal buildings, including the downtown detention center that had become a focal point for demonstrators.Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were "overwhelmed" by the remaining protesters, noting that known agitators—individuals who routinely appear at demonstrations to incite unrest—were among them.
Over the weekend, law enforcement arrested several dozen individuals. One was taken into custody on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at officers, and another for driving a motorcycle into a police line. That same afternoon, Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Trump urging him to withdraw the Guard, describing the deployment as a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”
While in Los Angeles meeting with local officials and law enforcement, Newsom addressed the demonstrators, warning that acts of violence or property destruction would lead to arrest and ultimately serve Trump's agenda.
“Trump is fueling chaos and provoking violence,” Newsom said. “Remain peaceful. Stay focused. Don’t hand him the excuse he wants.”
ALSO READ: Trump's ICE war spills onto streets: Where's the US headed?
This deployment marked what appears to be the first instance in decades where the National Guard was activated in a state without its governor's consent—an aggressive move aimed at curbing resistance to the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
McDonnell also rejected Trump administration claims that the LAPD failed to support federal agencies when protests erupted following a series of immigration raids on Friday. He insisted the department responded promptly and had received no prior notice of the raids.
Newsom has consistently maintained that California authorities are capable of handling the situation. He criticized Trump for prematurely celebrating the Guard's deployment on social media—before troops had even arrived—and told MSNBC that the president never mentioned sending in the Guard during their Friday phone call. He bluntly called Trump a “stone cold liar.”
The National Guard was deployed after two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles and spread on Saturday to Paramount—a predominantly Latino city south of LA—and neighboring Compton.
On Friday, federal agents arrested several immigrants at various locations, including LA’s fashion district and a Home Depot parking lot. The following day, agents were seen staging outside a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, prompting protesters to gather in anticipation of another raid. However, federal officials later clarified that no enforcement activity took place at that location.
By the end of the week, immigration-related arrests in the Los Angeles area had surpassed 100, according to federal authorities. In addition, numerous demonstrators were detained during the protests, including a well-known union leader accused of obstructing law enforcement operations.
The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that the National Guard was activated without a governor’s consent—when President Lyndon B. Johnson dispatched troops to protect civil rights marchers in Alabama, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Trump Vows 'Very Strong Law and Order'
On Saturday, President Donald Trump invoked a federal statute permitting him to deploy military forces in cases of “rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” He authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops.
Speaking to reporters Sunday in Morristown, New Jersey, before boarding Air Force One, Trump claimed there were “violent people” in Los Angeles and warned, “they're not going to get away with it.”
Protests in California
The streets of the vast city, home to 4 million residents, remained largely quiet Monday morning—just a day after massive crowds shut down a major freeway and set self-driving cars ablaze. Law enforcement had responded forcefully, deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.Sunday marked the third—and most intense—day of protests against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region. Demonstrations erupted across several downtown blocks and a few other locations, fueled by the arrival of roughly 300 National Guard troops, which triggered fear and outrage among many locals.
As night fell, authorities declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, prompting many protesters to leave. But some remained behind makeshift barricades, throwing objects at officers. Others hurled concrete chunks, rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol units stationed on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. At one point, officers were forced to take cover beneath an overpass.
On Saturday, Trump signed a memorandum calling in the National Guard — despite opposition from the state's and the city's Democratic leadership. Newsom, after saying Sunday that the Golden State would be taking Trump to court, wrote in a Monday X post that the president had "flamed the fires."
ALSO READ: California unrest: How Los Angeles immigration protests turned ugly after citywide ICE operations
He added, "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. Trump's order cited "[n]umerous incidents of violence and disorder" and "violent protests" but did not specifically mention California or the Los Angeles area.
"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 in a statement provided to Axios.
Jackson continued, "Instead of filing baseless lawsuits meant to score political points with his left-wing base, Newsom should focus on protecting Americans by restoring law and order to his state."
(With inputs from AP)
( Originally published on Jun 09, 2025 )
In Video:
LA riots | 'We’re suing Trump': Newsom slams Nat'l Guard troop move; Trump warns of ‘big punishment’
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