Los Angeles Protests Erupt After Trump Sends National Guard/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Protests exploded in Los Angeles after President Trump deployed National Guard troops without the governor’s consent, prompting clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Protesters blocked a freeway, torched self-driving cars, and faced tear gas and rubber bullets. Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment as unconstitutional and inflammatory.
Trump’s National Guard Move Ignites LA: Quick Looks
- Thousands protested in downtown Los Angeles after Trump sent 300 National Guard troops to the city.
- Protesters clashed with police, setting fires and hurling projectiles on the 101 Freeway.
- The Guard was deployed to protect federal buildings, including an immigration detention center.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom denounced the move, calling it an attack on state sovereignty.
- Dozens were arrested, including one individual for throwing a Molotov cocktail at officers.
- Trump called for “strong law and order”, invoking rebellion provisions to justify the deployment.
- Demonstrations followed federal immigration raids that resulted in over 100 arrests in the LA area.
- Self-driving cars were torched, and clashes continued for a third straight day.
- White House defended the deployment, accusing Newsom of downplaying the situation.
Deep Look: LA Protests Boil Over After Trump Deploys National Guard Without Governor’s Approval
LOS ANGELES — Downtown Los Angeles erupted into unrest Sunday as thousands of protesters flooded the streets in response to President Donald Trump’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops, sparking widespread clashes, freeway blockades, and the torching of self-driving vehicles.
The protests marked the third consecutive day of escalating tension in Southern California, following a wave of federal immigration raids and arrests across the region.
The unprecedented move by Trump to activate the National Guard without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom was met with fierce opposition from state officials and civil rights groups, who condemned it as an unconstitutional overreach and a political provocation.
Protests Turn Violent
As day turned to night Sunday, demonstrators shut down sections of the 101 Freeway, clashing with California Highway Patrol officers and hurling concrete, scooters, and fireworks. Some protesters reportedly set fire to four self-driving Waymo vehicles, producing clouds of thick black smoke over the downtown skyline.
Police declared an unlawful assembly and fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowd. Dozens were arrested, including at least one person accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail and another who rammed a motorcycle into a police line.
“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social, escalating rhetoric that critics say has fueled the unrest.
The Deployment Sparks Outrage
Around 300 National Guard troops arrived Sunday morning, positioned outside federal buildings including the downtown Los Angeles immigration detention center. Protesters responded with chants of “shame” and “go home,” with tensions escalating quickly as troops advanced in riot gear.
Governor Newsom demanded their removal, calling the deployment a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” He added that Trump never consulted him before dispatching the Guard, despite speaking with the president by phone Friday.
“This chaos is being provoked by the administration,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “This isn’t about safety—it’s about politics.”
Newsom, speaking from Los Angeles, accused Trump of lying about the situation on the ground and dismissed the justification for troop deployment under federal rebellion provisions as “absurd.”
Trump’s Justification and Further Threats
The Trump administration defended the deployment, citing federal law that allows troops to be used during “rebellion or danger of rebellion” against U.S. authority.
“We’re not going to let this happen to our country,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One. “We’re going to have troops everywhere.”
The White House claimed Newsom was ignoring the seriousness of the situation, calling his version of events a “bald-faced lie.”
Up to 2,000 additional Guard members have been authorized for activation. Meanwhile, 500 Marines from Twentynine Palms were placed on “prepared to deploy” status Sunday.
Escalating Fallout
The unrest began Friday after federal immigration agents arrested over 100 undocumented immigrants at locations across Los Angeles, including the fashion district and Home Depot parking lots.
Protests quickly spread from downtown to Paramount and Compton, heavily Latino areas, amid fears of continued raids. Though federal officials claimed there were no new enforcement actions planned, tensions remained high.
Law enforcement said the LAPD had been caught off guard by the protests due to lack of advance warning about the federal raids, prompting slow initial response times. However, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell denied that the department failed to assist federal agents.
“We responded as fast as possible,” McDonnell said, while noting that officers were “overwhelmed” by hostile protesters by Sunday.
Political and Historical Context
The last time the National Guard was deployed in Los Angeles without a governor’s request was 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Alabama during civil rights demonstrations.
The latest protests have not reached the scale of 1992’s Rodney King riots or 2020’s George Floyd demonstrations, but the deployment marks a significant flashpoint in Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown.
Despite urging for calm from city and state officials, tensions remain high. With additional troop deployments threatened and federal crackdowns continuing, Los Angeles appears poised for more confrontation.
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