All eyes are on Los Angeles as the city faced political tensions over the weekend as anti-ICE and anti-immigration protests escalated. This prompted President Donald Trump (R) to deploy the National Guard. As lawmakers offer a divided response, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) supports the president’s move, calling it an effort to “put down the mob” in L.A.
The decision however sparked immediate backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), who condemned the federal intervention and demanded that the troops be withdrawn.
In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Governor Newsom called President Trump’s move “a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation, while simultaneously depriving the State from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required.”
In response to the letter, Senator Ted Cruz (R) rebuked the call, interpreting instead as a call for chaos. “What Governor Newsom actually means is: ‘I have formally requested the President stop enforcing federal law in CA. In the Golden State, we embrace lawlessness… We handcuff our police & celebrate our criminals. And we hate the United States of America,’” Senator Cruz shared on social media.
Rep. Tony Gonzales defended President Trump’s actions during an appearance on Face the Nation, saying that he was “comfortable” with the president’s decision to use federal forces against the protestors.
“It’s tragic to see what’s happening in L.A. I spent twenty years in the military. I fought two wars. I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to, but what we’re seeing in L.A. are not advocates,” he commented during the interview. “We’re seeing anarchists, and the president of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible.”
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he concluded.
Governor Newsom has since shared that California will sue President Trump over its deployment of the National Guard.
