President Donald Trump defended his decision to deploy 300 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following three days of protests against immigration raids.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said the deployment was essential to stopping “violent, instigated riots.”
“If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated,” he wrote, adding that California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass were failing their citizens by downplaying the violence.
Trump mocked the Democratic leaders, calling them “incompetent” and accusing them of lying about the protests being peaceful. He said his administration “will always do what is needed” to keep Americans safe.
Newsom told MSNBC he plans to sue the Trump administration on Monday, calling the deployment “illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional.” Trump has invoked a legal provision allowing federal troops during rebellion or threats to federal authority.
The White House has not commented further.
