California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for deploying the National Guard to respond to protests in Los Angeles, accusing him of prioritizing political theater over genuine public safety.
“President Trump has opted for theater instead of public safety,” Newsom stated, referring to the federal response to recent demonstrations. The protests erupted following aggressive immigration raids carried out in Los Angeles, prompting large numbers of residents to take to the streets.
“All the people of Los Angeles came out to exercise their constitutional right to free speech and assembly, to protest the actions of their government,” Newsom said. He condemned the Trump administration’s focus on mass deportations, arguing it was misdirected.
Rather than targeting undocumented immigrants and criminals specifically, the federal government is “indiscriminately going after hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their background or threat level,” the governor asserted on Tuesday.
Newsom’s remarks reflect growing tensions between state and federal leadership over immigration enforcement and the handling of civil unrest.
