President Donald Trump is firing back at California officials after deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to put down what he called “migrant-fueled insurrectionist riots.” Trump said his swift federal response stopped the city from being “completely obliterated” and insisted that Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass owe him thanks—not lawsuits.
“Instead of complaining, Newsom and Bass should be thanking me,” Trump said. “They should be saying, ‘Thank you, President Trump. You saved our city. We would be nothing without you.’”
The president’s remarks come after days of violent unrest in Los Angeles, where ICE agents conducting immigration enforcement were ambushed by rioters hurling bricks, fireworks, and bottles. Self-driving taxis were set on fire, highways were blocked, and federal officers were forced to retreat before National Guard reinforcements arrived.
While federal agents and Guard units worked to restore order, Newsom and Bass criticized Trump’s move as “authoritarian,” with Newsom threatening legal action to challenge the deployment. Both leaders have painted the unrest as a response to “inhumane” policies rather than calling out the coordinated attacks on law enforcement.
Trump dismissed their complaints as political theater. “They were losing control of their city. We stepped in, cleaned it up, and kept people safe. That’s leadership,” he said. He also didn’t rule out future deployments to other sanctuary cities if similar chaos erupts.
Trump has not shied away from invoking the Insurrection Act when necessary, and hinted that he would support legal consequences for state officials who actively obstruct federal law. “No one is above the law,” he added.
As California Democrats double down on their opposition, Trump is making clear that the federal government will not hesitate to intervene where local leaders fail. His message to voters is simple: chaos will not be tolerated—and neither will political cowardice.