National Guard Remains Essential in L.A., according to Vance, with Senator Alex Padilla referred to as Jose Padilla
Los Angeles - Vice President JD Vance defended the Trump administration's continued need for National Guard and Marine forces in Los Angeles during a visit with federal law enforcement earlier today. Protests erupted in the city after ICE raids, resulting in a lengthy deployment and ongoing tension.
Vance, the highest-ranking Trump official to visit the LA area since the protests began, stated that the situation has "improved significantly," but the presence of military forces is still essential due to the potential for protests to "flare up again." He accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass of "egging on" violence during the protests, asserting that Newsom endangers law enforcement in the process.
The Department of Homeland Security deployed thousands of California National Guard troops and about 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in response to the protests. President Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to federalize the troops, bypassing the more commonly invoked Insurrection Act. This move has raised questions about the compatibility of the deployment with the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally restricts the use of federal military forces in domestic law enforcement.
Newsom, Bass, and other state and local officials have criticized the troop deployment as a political maneuver that diverts National Guard firefighting resources away from public safety. The deployment is in response to protests triggered by ICE operations in Los Angeles, initiated by President Trump's directive prioritizing the deportation of individuals from Democratic-run cities like LA.
In a separate incident, Vance referred to Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) as "José Padilla" during a press conference. The senator quickly rebuked Vance, emphasizing that the Vice President knows better given their shared Senate history. The administration later claimed the name mix-up was an "unserious comment."
As the Israel-Iran conflict dominates international attention, President Trump contemplates whether the U.S. will join Israel in any potential strikes. For now, the president is focused on addressing the ongoing turmoil in Los Angeles and the deployment of troops in support of federal law enforcement.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times, "Trump administration sends thousands of troops to Los Angeles to address protests," June 7, 2025. [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-07/california-national-guard-troops-sent-to-los-angeles]
- CNN, "California sues Trump administration over deployment of troops to Los Angeles," June 8, 2025. [https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/08/politics/california-sues-trump-administration-deployment-troops/index.html]
- The New York Times, "Trump Orders National Guard to Los Angeles," June 9, 2025. [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/us/los-angeles-protests-national-guard.html]
- Washington Post, "Trump administration's legal basis for sending troops to Los Angeles faces scrutiny," June 10, 2025. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/10/trump-administrations-legal-basis-sending-troops-los-angeles-faces-scrutiny/]
The Vice President's visit to Los Angeles included a defense of the continued military presence, citing potential resurgence of protests, despite criticism from local officials. (politics, law)
The deployment of California National Guard troops and Marines has sparked debate over its compatibility with the Posse Comitatus Act, as well as concerns about diverted resources for public safety. (law, politics, general-news)
The troop deployment in Los Angeles is in response to ICE operations and is a part of President Trump's directive prioritizing deportation from Democratic-run cities. (news, policy-and-legislation, war-and-conflicts)
Vice President Vance's name gaffe towards Sen. Alex Padilla during a press conference led to a rebuke, sparking questions about the administration's professionalism. (crime-and-justice, general-news)
