LA protests dwell: Trump ramps up response as 700 Marines and a couple of,000 extra National Guardsmen mobilized
Donald Trump will deploy thousands more military personnel in Los Angeles as the president ramps up his response to protests against his immigration raids, the Pentagon has confirmed.
Trump has reportedly ordered the Defense Department to take control of an additional 2,000 California National Guardsmen to bolster efforts to quell demonstrations. They will join the 2,000 guardsmen already stationed throughout L.A., as well as a contingent of up to 700 Marines mobilized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
As military presence in LA doubles, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he will deploy another 800 law enforcement officers in an attempt to “clean up President Trump’s mess.”
The deployments come on the heels of violent clashes on Sunday night, where demonstrators took to the streets against ICE raids targeting migrants. Cars were set on fire, looting was reported in downtown LA, and 42 people were arrested.
Earlier on Monday, Newsom sued the administration over the original deployment of the Guard, which he believes has inflamed the situation, claiming it was illegal because he did not request the assistance.
More than 100 arrests made in LA Monday
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass revealed that more than 100 people had been arrested on Monday evening in the city, adding that more violent “fringe groups” splintered off from peaceful demonstrations.
“What we’re seeing downtown is just horrible, but you know that the majority of people that attended the protest this afternoon were peaceful,” she told KABC in a late-night phone interview.
A majority of the arrests were for unlawful assembly, Bass said.
Just in: Trump says LA would be ash if he didn’t ‘send in troops’
Donald Trump has defended his decision to deploy almost 5,000 military personnel to Los Angeles in an attempt to quell protests against his administration’s immigration raids.
Writing on Truth Social Tuesday morning, the president said that LA “would be burning to the ground right now” if he hadn’t ordered the Defense Department to take control of around 4,000 California National Guardsmen and direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize 700 Marines.
Trump also escalated his war of words against Californian officials, reubuking Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass as “incompetent” and a “total mess.”
The president also took a jab at Newsom and Bass’s response to the LA wildfires earlier this year, which engulfed 25,000 acres of land and damaged over 16,000 homes and commercial buildings.
1 in 3 Americans approve of LA anti-immigration protests, poll finds
Just over one in three (36 percent) of Americans approve of the Los Angeles protests against the Trump administration’s immigration raids, a new poll suggests.
According to YouGov’s survey published Monday of more than 4200 American adults, 45 percent disapprove of the unrest, with 19 percent “not sure” of which way they lean.
The poll suggests 58 percent of Democrats approve of the protests, compared with just 15 percent of Republicans.
Respondents aged 65 and over were most likely to disapprove of the demonstrations (58 percent), with those aged between 18 and 29 being the most in favor of the protests (35 percent disapprove).
The YouGov survey followed a CBS News poll conducted just before the protest erupted that suggested that 54 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s deportation program.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker stunned by flashbang in LA riots
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker was caught up in the Los Angeles riots, with footage capturing the moment he was disoriented by loud flashbangs.
Piker, who lives in LA and is known for posting YouTube videos under the moniker “HasanAbi”, was interrogated by border agents last month upon returning from overseas over his anti-Trump political views.
On Monday, photos and footage of him attending the protests were shared on social media.
“They’re firing into the crowd now. I don’t think that’s fireworks, buddy,” Piker is heard saying as he streamed from the scene. “They’re already deploying flashbangs. Not great.”
Madeline Sherrat has the details:
Monday’s LA protests in photos
Why is LA protesting?
Donald Trump deployed a U.S. Marine battalion and doubled the number of National Guardsmen on the ground in Los Angeles on Monday, in a major escalation of his response to the immigration raid protests.
There remains, however, a question: why is LA protesting?
The Independent has broken down what you need to know about the demonstrations as LA experiences its fifth day of upheaval.
Watch: CNN reporter ‘detained’ by riot police in LA live on air
While reporting on the protests that swept across parts of Los Angeles, CNN National Correspondent Jason Carroll was briefly apprehended and questioned by police live on air.
From the studio, anchor Laura Coates interrupted CNN law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller, and said: “Wait one second, John. Hold on. I want to get Jason. What’s going on? I hear you. What am I seeing?”
“I am being detained. I am being detained, Laura,” Caroll said to Coates, before asking a police officer: “I am not being arrested, correct?”
Video footage captured of the moment shows Carroll telling police his name before he is seen being chaperoned by two officers with his hands behind his back.
“We’re letting you go. You can’t come back. If you come back, you will be arrested,” one officer says.
“Ok,” Carol responds.
Analysis: Trump made Newsom’s day by sending National Guard to LA
On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he would sue President Donald Trump’s administration for seizing control of the state’s National Guard to quell immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles.
In response, Trump seconded his “border czar” Tom Homan’s threat that he might arrest the governor.
The protests began late last week after Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents conducted raids and arrests in Los Angeles at a Home Depot that resulted in 44 people being arrested.
The move gave Newsom, who has never been able to conceal his aspirations for higher office, an incredible surge of media attention just after he received months of public derision. In truth, Trump’s war on Los Angeles has given California’s Democrats, who have long been beleaguered, a new life.
Washington Bureau Chief Eric Garcia has more:
Anti-ICE protests start forming in New York City, Austin and Santa Ana
Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spread to more American cities on Monday as clashes between activists and law enforcement continue to rage in Los Angeles.
ICE agents attempting to make sweeping arrests of undocumented migrants in the California city as part of President Donald Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown on Friday met with mass resistance from local residents, which has led to four days of dramatic and occasionally violent confrontations on the streets.
Trump has responded by sending in the state National Guard while the Pentagon has placed 700 active-duty Marines on standby to support the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)’s efforts to maintain order.
Joe Sommerlad has the details:
Jon Stewart blasts Trump’s role in Los Angeles riots
Comedian Jon Stewart has accused Donald Trump of fueling the riots in Los Angeles after immigration raids in the city sparked days of major unrest.
The Daily Show host said the situation was “the very predictable result of a liberal city, reliant on an immigrant population, colliding with a heavy-handed MAGA migrant-trawling operation looking to hit its quota of brown Pokemen. Gotta catch ’em all!”
Stewart continued: “So now, predictably, these non-targeted, much broader deportation efforts in cities that feel very connected to the immigrant population is a tinderbox. And Trump happily lights the fuse.”
Rachel Clun has more:
Source: independent.co.uk
