Governor Shapiro of Pennsylvania asserts that it's inappropriate for Trump to dispatch troops to quell protests in Philadelphia, with the Los Angeles reaction causing a split among governors.
In a stark contrast, California's Dem Governor Gavin Newsom is slamming President Donald Trump's military intervention at protests over immigration policy in Los Angeles, calling it an "assault on democracy". He's even suing to halt it. Meanwhile, Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is readying National Guard troops in areas where demonstrations are planned.
The differing strategies illustrate both parties' attempts to navigate national politics and the role of executive power in enforcing immigration policies.
Newsom blasted Trump's move as escalating the situation for political gain in his live TV address this week. All 22 other Democratic governors have backed Newsom, labeling the Guard deployment and threats to send in Marines an "alarming abuse of power" that "undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement".
Most protests in L.A. have been confined to a small downtown section; around 200 people were detained on Tuesday, and at least seven police officers have been injured. In Republican-controlled states, governors have yet to announce specific plans for deploying military troops for protests.
Since Trump's return to office, Democratic governors have been strategic about when to denounce him, when to seek common ground, and when to stay quiet. Their responses are guided by political considerations and the potential impact on voters in their states and nationally.
Democratic governors are weighing various factors. There may be concerns about retaliation from the administration for a strong stance, and polling indicates about half of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, though this was before the recent military deployment.
On other issues, Democratic governors have taken different approaches with Trump. Maine's Democratic Governor Mills told Trump "we'll see you in court" over his push to cut off funding to the state due to allowing transgender athletes in girls' school sports. Michigan's Whitmer publicly sparred with Trump during his first term but has met with him privately this time around to find common ground. Initially, Hawaii's Green called Trump a "straight-up dictator," but he later toned down his criticism.
Democratic governors called to testify before a House panel Thursday on sanctuary policies criticized the use of military troops in the L.A. area. Illinois' Pritzker said his state complies with all laws while honoring First Amendment rights, adding that deploying National Guard and active duty Marines in an American city over local law enforcement objections is wrong. New York's Hochul emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, calling the situation an "assault on our American values."
On the Republican side, Florida governor DeSantis has often clashed with Newsom, both having national ambitions. Despite Newsom's office stating DeSantis offered to send Florida State Guard troops to California, Newsom declined the offer, arguing it would escalate an already chaotic situation. Governor DeSantis dismissed the rejection, stating that the way to "put the fire out is to ensure law and order."
Protests against immigration enforcement raids have surfaced in other cities, with more planned for the weekend. Governors are preparing to respond accordingly. Connecticut's Democratic Governor Ned Lamont emphasized the need for state and local police to work together to avoid giving Trump any pretext to militarize the situation. Texas' Abbott ordered over 5,000 National Guard troops and 2,000 state police to be deployed around the state. Despite Austin's mayor's office stating the National Guard was not requested, troops were reportedly present at a protest there. Florida's DeSantis warned that any attacks on law enforcement, rioting, or vandalism would result in swift action.
- The contrasting approaches taken by Democratic and Republican governors in response to the immigration protests and Trump's military interventions highlight their political strategies in navigating policy-and-legislation and the enforcement of immigration policies, as well as their concerns about war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- The use of military troops in addressing immigration enforcement raids has sparked criticisms from Democratic governors, who see it as an assault on democracy, American values, and the First Amendment rights, while Republican governors like Abbott and DeSantis view the deployment as necessary for maintaining law-and-order and addressing crime-and-justice issues.