White House Condemns Los Angeles Riots, Defends Trump’s Deployment of National Guard and Marines
Karoline Leavitt slams Newsom, Bass as Trump asserts federal authority amid violent protests

WASHINGTON – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday launched a blistering rebuke of California leaders as riots continued to rage in Los Angeles, calling the unrest “shameful” and blaming Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass for failing to protect their city.

Speaking from the James Brady Press Briefing Room, Leavitt made clear that President Donald Trump would not “stand idly by” while “left-wing radicals” wreaked havoc in a major American city.

“The cowardice from California officials is unacceptable,” Leavitt declared. “They didn’t have the courage to do the right thing and protect law-abiding Californians from violent rioters. That’s why President Trump took action. He deployed the National Guard and mobilized U.S. Marines to end the chaos and restore law and order.”

Her comments come amid escalating unrest in Los Angeles, which erupted following a federal immigration raid and rapidly turned into a wave of protests and violence. Trump’s decision to send federal forces — including 2,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines — has reignited fierce debate about the limits of federal power and the use of military personnel in civilian law enforcement.

Leavitt, addressing reporters, emphasized that Trump had acted “within the full scope of his constitutional authority” and cited U.S. Code Title 10 as the legal basis for federalizing California’s National Guard. The move, she said, was necessary to quell what she described as “mob rule” and to prevent further destruction and injury.

“These are not peaceful protests,” Leavitt insisted. “This is organized, coordinated criminal activity. And this administration is committed to holding those responsible fully accountable.”

When pressed by CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins about whether military personnel would be allowed to make arrests without invoking the Insurrection Act, Leavitt stood firm. “The president took the steps needed under federal law to ensure public safety,” she said, declining to say whether the Insurrection Act might still be considered.

Trump, who returned to the White House in January after a contentious 2024 election, has been vocal in recent days about the situation in California, suggesting that the state’s leadership is obstructing federal law enforcement — particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

In a stunning exchange earlier this week, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump whether he supported ICE Director Tom Homan arresting Newsom if the governor continued to resist ICE activity.

Trump responded bluntly: “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity. But I do think it would be a great thing. He’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom — he’s a nice guy — but he’s grossly incompetent. Everybody knows it.”

The president’s comments added fuel to an already heated political climate, with critics accusing Trump of using military force to score political points while his supporters praised him for stepping in where they believe local leadership has failed.

Newsom, in a fiery social media post, blasted Trump’s remarks and accused the president of “traumatizing our communities with threats of martial law.” He reiterated that California would prosecute anyone involved in violence but condemned what he described as federal overreach.

“California will not be intimidated,” Newsom wrote. “We will uphold the rule of law and protect our people — not escalate tensions with tanks in the streets.”

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized the federal response, calling it “heavy-handed” and urging calm. “We must not confuse legitimate protest with criminal behavior — and we must not respond to either with military aggression,” she said.

Despite the criticism, Leavitt made it clear that the Trump administration had no plans to back down. She praised federal agents for “swift and courageous action” and said ICE operations in the region were proceeding “unabated.”

“The criminals responsible for this violence will face justice. And our efforts to remove illegal aliens and restore law and order will not be deterred,” she said.

Trump’s move has forced Democrats into a defensive posture, with many scrambling to balance their support for protest rights with calls for public safety. The political ramifications could be significant as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

Observers say the showdown in Los Angeles may be a defining moment for Trump’s second term, much like the 2020 protests defined his first. And with federal troops now deployed on American streets once again, the nation is watching to see what comes next.