Showdown in LA: Trump Bolsters Troops Amid City Chaos
U.S. President Trump deploys 2700 military personnel to Los Angeles - Trump deploys additional 2,700 military personnel to Los Angeles.
Chaos erupts in Los Angeles once more as Trump bolsters military presence, four days after violent riots following the arrest of migrants in the city.
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Deeming it necessary, Donald Trump has escalated the military presence in Los Angeles, deploying an additional 2700 troops from the National Guard and the Marines – in total, more US troops stationed in LA than currently in Iraq and Syria. The president's decision, announced on Monday, came despite the public opposition of California Governor Gavin Newsom and the city administration.
A Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, revealed that an additional 2000 members of the California National Guard would join the already-deployed troops to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in enabling federal police to carry out their duties safely. An additional 700 active-duty Marine Corps infantrymen will come from Camp Pendleton to mitigate increasing threats against federal officers and federal buildings, according to government officials.
Protests Gone Wild
Earlier on Monday, Trump concurrently ordered the deployment of the 700 Marines to Los Angeles, following yesterday's mayhem in the city center, triggered by the actions of federal agents against migrants. The clashes, consisting of car arsons, store lootings, and violent confrontations between protesters and police, resulted in the arrest of 56 civilians over the past two days, as well as the light injury of five police officers.
A total of 60 people were arrested in San Francisco during protests. Additionally, confrontations occurred in New York and the Texas capital, Austin, leaving several individuals in custody in New York. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese harshly condemned the shooting of an Australian journalist with a rubber bullet during the Los Angeles protests.
A Battle of Words
Governor Newsom accused the president of being a "dictatorial" leader who aims to "sow chaos" in Los Angeles. Despite the Pentagon's announcement of deploying more National Guard troops, Newsom quickly announced a lawsuit against Trump. In response, Trump accused "professional agitators and insurrectionists" for the clashes and threatened stronger measures.
He also took a dig at California Governor Newsom, expressing openness to his immigration czar Tom Homan's suggestion to arrest the governor, characterizing it as "great." Newsom, however, adamantly defended peaceful protests, accusing the president of escalating tensions for personal gain.
Enough said, President Trump dismissed the idea of a potential civil war in the US but pointed to a potential strife if politicians, such as Newsom, were left in charge, emphasizing that he does not want that to happen.
- Los Angeles
- Donald Trump
- California
- Gavin Newsom
- Migrants
- Sean Parnell
- ICE
- National Guard
- Marines
Brief Enrichment Data:
The ongoing protests in Los Angeles stem from aggressive immigration raids targeting undocumented immigrants at workplaces and public locations. These operations, conducted by federal agents, have sparked violent outbreaks, with incidents including vehicle fires, vandalism, and violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement. The conflicts have led to dozens of arrests and the imposition of curfews in affected areas. This marks the first time in decades that the National Guard has been activated in a state without a request from its governor, leading to tensions between federal authorities and California officials.
- Amid the mounting tensions and violent protests in Los Angeles following the immigration raids, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a lawsuit against President Donald Trump for escalating the military presence in the city, deeming Trump a "dictatorial" leader who aims to "sow chaos."
- Following the events in Los Angeles, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, revealed that an additional 2000 members of the California National Guard will join the troops to support the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, while an additional 700 active-duty Marine Corps infantrymen will be deployed to mitigate threats against federal officers and federal buildings – a decision met with opposition from Governor Newsom.
