Protests in Los Angeles: Trump praises National Guard, city officials deny their presence
Controversial reports have emerged regarding the scale and response to the protests that erupted in Los Angeles in connection with immigration raids. While U.S. President Donald Trump generously thanked the National Guard for their activities during two days of citywide unrest on his TruthSocial profile, local authorities categorically denied their presence in the city, stating that only police agencies are operating there. Early in the morning of June 8, Trump addressed his supporters with praise for the National Guard, noting that their work received high marks and deserves support. "Excellent work by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes, and riots. We have an incompetent governor (Gavin Newsom) and mayor (Karen Bass), who, as usual, have failed to handle the situation. Just look at how they’re managing the fires and today—as well as their catastrophic delays in issuing permits. Federal permits have already been obtained, and we are responding appropriately." With this, Trump highlighted the efforts of the federal authorities and criticized the local administration. The Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, also made her position clear. On her X account (formerly Twitter), she emphasized that the national guard was not deployed in the city and that the work was solely carried out by local police. "I want to thank the Los Angeles Police Department and local law enforcement for their work tonight," she stated. At the same time, Bass expressed gratitude to California Governor Gavin Newsom for his support, assuring that the responsibility for maintaining order rests entirely with the city authorities. The background of these events lies in protests that lasted two full days following mass immigration raids in the region. During this time, discussions intensified at the federal level about possible military intervention to restore order. U.S. Secretary of Defense, P. G. Hagset, mentioned that the Pentagon was prepared to mobilize troops if the situation further escalated, emphasizing that violence should not continue. This provoked a sharp reaction from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who in his X account called such decisions "deliberately provocative." He stressed that deploying the National Guard is not due to a lack of law enforcement personnel but to demonstrate strength. "Don’t let them do this; never resort to violence. Express yourself peacefully," he urged. Thus, the situation in Los Angeles remains tense, and the disagreements between federal authorities and local administration reflect the complexity and deep political polarization surrounding immigration policies and city security measures. Meanwhile, society stays in a state of tension, awaiting further developments and official statements from both sides.