President Trump deploys troops to Los Angeles

 President Trump deployed 2000 National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during protests in June 2025.  Some of those troops protected government buildings.

1.      I believe Trump mishandled the situation.  At a minimum, he should have discussed the situation with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass before acting.  (He may have been looking for an opportunity to deploy forces.)

2.      His effort stimulated additional protests nationwide.

3.      Some people handled the situation well. 

a.        The LAPD seemed to do well, despite being “overwhelmed” according to the police chief. 

b.       I heard a lady who had been an assistant something-or-other on Kamala Harris’s staff speak well about the situation on CNN. 

c.        Most protesters acted properly.

4.      However, Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom were slow to address the issue and contributed to a fertile ground for problems.

5.      The LAPD has about 1,300 fewer officers than a decade ago and about half as many per capita as NYC, despite a much broader footprint.  This spring, Mayor Bass proposed cutting another 400 positions.  (The Wall Street Journal | Page A017Monday, 16 June 2025)

6.      California’s Fast Food Council bars fast-food employers from inquiring into immigration status of employees and applicants.  AB 450 requires employers to notify workers of ICE enforcement and bars them from verifying immigration status without state approval, with fines up to $25,000 for each violation.  (The Wall Street Journal | Page A011Saturday, 14 June 2025)

7.      Representative Maxine Waters stated, on CNN, that demonstrations are non-violent unless people are shot or killed.  The CNN host cited violence several times, unsuccessfully trying to get her to soften her position.  This was the same broadcast that Ms. Harris’s assistant spoke on.  Elsewhere, Ms. Waters consistently denied that violence occurred.  Sadly, this is typical of Ms. Waters.  She urged protesters to “get more confrontational” if Derek Chauvin was not found guilty in the death of George Floyd.  She also urged her supporters to confront Trump cabinet members in restaurants to tell them they were not welcome there or anywhere.

8.      Other than for extreme circumstances, I don’t think it is appropriate to be a sanctuary city or state.  If you’re a sanctuary city normally, you’ve removed a key way to respond to improper behavior.  See my separate piece on sanctuary cities.

9.      I am not aware of demonstrators turning over film of people engaged in destruction or pelting police.  If you’re going to protest, I believe you need to hold your associates accountable.