White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the recent protests and riots in Los Angeles, calling them "shameful." She criticized California leaders for not controlling what she described as "left-wing radicals." Leavitt spoke out during a press briefing, emphasizing President Donald Trump’s efforts to restore order in the city.
Leavitt accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of failing to protect law-abiding citizens. She stated, "They didn’t have the courage to do the right thing." In response to the unrest, Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to help quell the chaos.
"The mob violence is being stomped out," Leavitt added, assuring that those responsible would face justice. She also noted that operations to arrest illegal immigrants would continue without interruption.
The protests erupted following an immigration raid, leading to concerns about public safety. Trump, in a bold move, federalized 2,000 National Guardsmen and sent 700 Marines to Los Angeles. He suggested he might even support arresting Governor Newsom if he obstructed federal operations during the unrest.
During the briefing, Leavitt faced questions about the criteria for deploying the National Guard. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins pointed out that military personnel typically cannot make arrests unless the Insurrection Act is invoked. Leavitt clarified that the president had federalized the National Guard under U.S. Code 10.
Trump has been vocal about his belief that many of the individuals involved in the riots are professional agitators rather than genuine protesters. He described them as "insurrectionists" who should be jailed.
In the wake of these events, Newsom responded to Trump’s comments on social media, criticizing the president for his handling of the situation. The tensions between state and federal authorities continue to rise as both sides navigate this challenging situation.