Former President Donald Trump unleashed an extraordinary display of rhetoric and authority Saturday by attacking California Governor Gavin Newsom on social media, asserting that federal authorities needed to “step in” because state and local officials “cannot fulfill their duties”.
Trump recently made waves by ordering the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops under Title 10 authority–an unusual federal takeover without needing governor consent–to Los Angeles under Title 10, in an attempt to quell violent protests arising during mass ICE immigration enforcement operations and quell violent protests that followed them (cbsnews.com/news/102040778490678)
“If Governor Gavin Newscum can’t do his job properly, then the Federal Government will step in”
Trump took to Truth Social to brand Governor Newsom–whom he misspelled deliberately as “Newscum”–incompetent, accusing both him and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass of failing to maintain order in their respective cities. Trump wrote “if Governor Gavin Newscum of California and Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles cannot do their jobs…then the Federal Government will step in and solve RIOTS & LOOTERS the way it should be solved!!!”. For further reading see calmatters.org + 4 itv +4 this page + thesun+4 acestei pages +4.
This incident marked an unprecedented upsurge in tensions between Trump and Californian leadership. Over the weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids in neighborhoods such as downtown L.A. and Paramount arresting over 100 undocumented individuals believed to include suspected gang-linked individuals; which resulted in intense protests and confrontations for hours on end. For more details read en.wikipedia.org > > 13 for arrest records as well as newrepublic.com. Initially published at newrepublic.com this story also appeared here and at The Sun UK (+13).
Trump explained his federal move as necessary to “address lawlessness” that state and local officials allegedly failed to contain, according to The Guardian, AAP News, The Sun, The Times and others.
He framed it as an attempt to bolster a faltering state response.
Attention is being drawn to the unprecedented federal command of National Guard troops under Title 10 rather than state control. Such an unprecedented move by Trump bypasses governorial authority, as legal experts warn such unilateral moves carry constitutional risks (vanityfair.com apnews com).
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized active-duty Marines based at Camp Pendleton to be placed on “high alert,” signalling their readiness to escalate if demonstrations continue, according to reports and publications such as APN News Service, The Guardian Online and Wikipedia (See references above for further reading on this topic).
Newsom Condemns Deployment as “Purposefully Inflammatory”
Governor Newsom issued an angry response, denouncing the federal action as “purposefully inflammatory” and warning it “will only escalate tensions.” He emphasized that California already had sufficient resources and law enforcement coordination, dismissing its troop deployment as unnecessary political theater (nationalheraldindia.com/news/84580548)
He warned of its potential to undermine public trust during an unstable time.
Mayor Karen Bass echoed these concerns by condemning the raids as sowing “terror” within communities while acknowledging peaceful protest as being legal and permitted. She acknowledged this right while acknowledging peaceful demonstration as being permitted to occur (TheSun.co.uk and NYPost both give +5 points towards participation), however this doesn’t rule out engaging in peaceful activism such as protesting.
Violence escalates During Raids and Protests Clashes escalated significantly in Paramount and parts of L.A. County on May 22. Protesters were reported throwing rocks, bottles, Molotov cocktails and Molotov-like objects at federal agents prompting use of tear gas, flash-bang grenades and less-lethal weapons by law enforcement, prompting tear gas canisters, flash grenades and less lethal weapons being deployed by federal agents as a response. For more details see these articles; The Guardian +5 | En Wikipedia +5
Politico +5 and Politico +5 for additional details
At least 118 arrests were made as a result of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) sweep operations, reported thesun.co.uk, while federal authorities faulted state officials for failing to respond effectively when disturbances began, with reports citing LAPD response times that were delayed when disturbances first started, per nypost.com + 1.
Broader Political Stakes and Next Steps Donald Trump’s decision to use federal troops as reinforcement in immigration enforcement marks an expansion of authority during his second term, setting a potential new precedent of using national military forces during domestic protests, further blurring the divisions between federal and state powers.
However, Newsom has yet to decide whether she will seek legal action against the federal deployment. Civil libertists warn that this shift could alter future federal-state relations beyond simply immigration issues.
As National Guard troops become an integral part of Los Angeles law enforcement efforts, local officials such as Bass and city council members are calling for de-escalation. Building trust with their communities is vital to maintaining safety and maintaining civic unity.
Conclusion
President Trump’s remarks signal not just a narrow attack on Newsom as governor but a broad assertion of federal supremacy when state and local authorities seem overwhelmed. With immigration, civil rights and intergovernmental power all at play, California’s battle with Washington may produce lasting legal and political ramifications that last far beyond 2016.
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