White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the protests and riots in Los Angeles as ‘shameful,’ criticizing California officials for failing to control the unrest. She emphasized President Donald Trump’s efforts to quash the ‘mob rule’ seen in the city while accusing Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of not protecting law-abiding citizens from rioters.
Leavitt made these comments as soon as she took the podium at a Wednesday press briefing. She highlighted Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to restore order, suggesting that the state officials had not done enough to contain the violence. ‘They didn’t have the courage to do the right thing and protect law-abiding Californians from rioters,’ Leavitt said.
The press secretary also pointed to the continued operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest undocumented immigrants amid the chaos, stating that ‘the mob violence is being stomped out.’ She added that ‘the criminals responsible will be swiftly brought to justice,’ reinforcing the administration’s stance on law and order.
As the situation escalated, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins raised questions about the specific criteria Trump used to federalize California’s National Guard. Leavitt responded by citing U.S. Code 10, which allows the president to federalize the National Guard under certain conditions, including insurrection or rebellion.
Meanwhile, Trump’s move to deploy 2,000 National Guardsmen and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles has drawn attention to the political implications of his actions. Trump suggested that he would be willing to arrest Newsom if his administration obstructs ICE operations, declaring, ‘He’s daring Tom Homan to come and arrest him. Should he do it?’
Newsom swiftly responded to Trump’s comments on social media, expressing frustration with the president’s characterization of the riots and the role of law enforcement. The incident underscores the deepening political divide in California, as state officials defend their handling of the unrest while the federal government takes an increasingly interventionist approach.
Trump has also been vocal about his belief that many of the rioters in Los Angeles are professional agitators rather than real protesters. ‘The people that are causing the problem are professional agitators. They’re insurrectionists. They’re bad people. They should be in jail,’ Trump said, further emphasizing the administration’s hardline stance on public order and security.