NOTE: VIDEO BELOW
California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared visibly emotional during a televised address Tuesday night, as he condemned the federal government’s role in escalating unrest in Los Angeles. His comments followed the announcement that the Department of Homeland Security would deploy elite ICE tactical units to several Democrat-led cities, including L.A.
The targeted cities—New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and northern Virginia—are all known Democratic strongholds. The move comes in response to large-scale protests sparked by aggressive federal immigration enforcement, which Newsom claims is fueling instability across California.
The unrest prompted L.A. officials to issue a citywide curfew, and tensions continue to rise as images of ICE agents confronting demonstrators circulate online.
Newsom did not hold back in his criticism of former President Donald Trump, accusing him of overstepping constitutional limits by deploying U.S. troops to protect federal property rather than for civilian law enforcement—a move Newsom insists undermines democracy itself.
“This goes beyond protests,” Newsom warned. “This is about whether democracy survives in America. Trump’s attempt to seize control of the National Guard is the kind of power grab we’ve feared for years.”
His comments referenced an executive directive by Trump aiming to nationalize National Guard units during periods of domestic unrest. Legal battles over this authority are already underway; a federal appeals court temporarily paused a lower ruling that had restored National Guard control to Newsom, with final arguments expected next week.
As Newsom delivered his passionate speech, Trump was in North Carolina speaking at Fort Bragg. He defended the use of federal forces, calling the protests in Los Angeles an “invasion” and labeling demonstrators as “animals” and “foreign enemies.”
“What’s happening in California is a direct threat to our sovereignty,” Trump said. “We will not allow American cities to be overrun by criminal elements supported by foreign interests.”
He went further, describing parts of Los Angeles as “a garbage dump” and promising a federal campaign to “restore safety and order.”
Newsom, undeterred, concluded with a warning: “History shows that authoritarian regimes begin by targeting the most vulnerable. This administration has declared war—not just on immigrants, but on knowledge, history, and science itself.”
Whether this federal crackdown spreads to other states remains to be seen, but for now, Los Angeles stands as the flashpoint in a much larger national confrontation.
