Trump’s Heavy-Handed Crackdown Sparks Chaos in Los Angeles

TEHRAN (Defapress) - According to Reuters, California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned President Donald Trump’s unlawful and authoritarian decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles, where protests have erupted over the administration’s brutal immigration raids. Newsom vowed to sue the Trump administration, accusing the president of manufacturing a crisis and trampling on California’s sovereignty.

“These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,” Newsom declared in a scathing social media post, slamming Trump’s heavy-handed response to demonstrations fueled by his own draconian policies.

Despite Newsom’s objections, Trump doubled down, labeling protesters as "violent, insurrectionist mobs" and threatening even harsher crackdowns. In a chilling remark to reporters, Trump warned, "They spit, we hit," signaling his willingness to escalate violence against dissenters.

Los Angeles streets became a battleground as police clashed with demonstrators, many carrying Mexican flags and signs denouncing Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Protesters blocked major freeways, while others gathered outside federal buildings, shouting "Shame on you!" at law enforcement.

The unrest intensified after Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops into the city, a move critics say was designed to provoke rather than protect. Video footage showed Guard members and Homeland Security agents aggressively pushing back demonstrators, while self-driving Waymo vehicles were set ablaze in the chaos.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the Trump administration of deliberately inciting tension, while immigrant rights advocates slammed the deployment as a blatant abuse of power.

“This isn’t about safety, it’s about Trump creating a spectacle to justify his anti-immigrant agenda,” said Vanessa Cárdenas of America’s Voice.

Even Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has tried to maintain diplomacy with Trump, condemned the raids and militarized response, calling for humane immigration reform instead of violence and intimidation.

As Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, a relic of 1807 meant for suppressing rebellions, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at mobilizing active-duty Marines if protests continue, raising fears of an even more aggressive federal crackdown.

With tensions escalating and Trump fanning the flames, Los Angeles braces for more turmoil.