The US president has labeled protesters “paid insurrectionists,” blaming local authorities for a violent escalation
US President Donald Trump has called on California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to apologize for what he described as a “horrible” failure to control violent unrest in the city. Trump accused demonstrators in LA of being “paid insurrectionists” and held local leaders responsible for an escalation of clashes over the weekend.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump wrote: “Governor Gavin Newscum and ‘Mayor’ Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots. These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists. Remember, NO MASKS!”
In a separate post, he added: “Paid Insurrectionists!”
Violence broke out in the city of Paramount on Saturday, where protesters confronted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers outside a Home Depot store. Tensions escalated and officers deployed tear gas and less-lethal rounds to disperse the crowd.
The White House confirmed that Trump had ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County, citing several days of protests and attacks on federal personnel. Around 300 Guard members are currently deployed, with 500 Marines on standby.
Large groups gathered on the 101 Freeway on Sunday. The California Highway Patrol moved to clear the southbound lanes between the 110 and 5/10 interchanges. Videos showed protesters waving Mexican flags and chanting “Viva la Raza” as traffic was halted.
Footage posted online showed individuals throwing explosives at mounted police officers and burning American flags in the streets of downtown Los Angeles.
According to the LAPD Central Division, concrete and bottles were thrown at officers, prompting a dispersal order around Alameda and Temple Streets.
The FBI said it was seeking a man suspected of assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property during the unrest. A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Newsom denounced the federal deployment as “illegal” and said the state was not properly consulted. He accused Trump of misrepresenting the timeline of the military presence and announced plans to file a lawsuit.
The governor also urged demonstrators to stay calm. “Don’t give Trump what he wants,” he wrote on X.
White House immigration adviser Tom Homan defended the federal response, stating that immigration enforcement would continue “every day” in Los Angeles. He warned that local officials who obstruct federal operations could face arrest. Homan criticized California’s sanctuary policies and called Newsom “an embarrassment for the state.”
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