MIKEY SMITH: 9 troubling Donald Trump moments as he ‘illegally’ sends thousands of troops into LA
Donald Trump has sent 2,000 more National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, even though no one in California’s government wants them there. The state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, says this action is likely illegal, and California’s top lawyer has filed a lawsuit to try to send them back. The city’s police chief believes their presence will make things worse, not better.
This is happening as protests continue in LA against Trump’s harsh immigration and deportation policies. Trump claims he saved the city from destruction by sending in the troops. But he’s doing something no president has done in around 60 years calling in the military without the state asking for help.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass says Trump is exaggerating the situation to stir up fear. She believes the city can handle the protests and accuses the president of trying to intentionally cause chaos.
There are already 2,000 National Guard troops in LA, but Newsom said most haven’t even been deployed properly. He said they were left with no food or water and had to sleep on the floor in federal buildings. Only around 300 have actually been used, according to him. He called this treatment “reckless, pointless, and disrespectful.”
Things got even more intense when Trump said the Governor should be arrested — something no president has ever seriously suggested about a sitting governor without cause. When asked what crime Newsom committed, Trump just said the crime was “being governor” and blamed him for the problems in California.
Trump also posted online that if protesters spit at the National Guard, the soldiers should hit them back hard. He wrote, “IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT,” saying disrespect won’t be allowed under his leadership.
At the same time, Trump keeps changing his story about the protests. He sometimes calls the demonstrators “insurrectionists” but also says he doesn’t think it’s technically an “insurrection.” That may be because legally, an insurrection means a violent attempt to overthrow the government and what’s happening in LA doesn’t meet that definition. Plus, Trump recently pardoned people involved in the actual insurrection on January 6th, so he may be trying to avoid that comparison.
In another moment, someone reminded Trump of his old statement where he said he wouldn’t send in the Guard without legal reasons, even in Democratic cities. He tried to explain away the contradiction by saying Newsom is just an “incompetent governor,” even though Newsom was already in office when Trump made that earlier comment.
Then, in a bizarre moment, Trump repeated a totally false claim about Adolf Hitler giving a speech at the Eiffel Tower during World War II. That never happened the French disabled the elevator before the Nazis arrived, so Hitler never even went up the tower.
Elsewhere in Trump’s orbit, Republican senator JD Vance threatened to deport a popular fashion writer known as “Menswear Guy” on Twitter/X. This man, who grew up in the U.S. after crossing the Canadian border as a baby, shared how being undocumented has affected his life. Even though he supports peaceful protest and disagrees with immigration raids, some conservatives are now targeting him.
Trump was also asked if Elon Musk, who has been accused of using drugs, ever brought them into the White House. Trump said he didn’t know and hoped not, adding that he wishes Musk well.
Finally, Trump is throwing a massive tank parade in Washington, D.C., that could cost up to \$45 million much of it to repair damage to roads. When asked who’s paying for it, Trump said he is, along with donations. He insisted it’s a celebration of the military, not his birthday although the parade happens to fall on the same day as his birthday and Flag Day.
