Trump: "Deploying the National Guard to LA Protests Was an Excellent Decision"

Social Media Post
"Measures in Response to Violent and Provocative Riots"

On June 9 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the decision to deploy the state National Guard to Los Angeles (LA), California, where large-scale protests erupted in response to crackdowns and deportations of undocumented immigrants, was "an excellent decision."

Reuters Yonhap News

In a post on his self-created social networking service, Truth Social, President Trump said, "It was to respond to the violent and provocative riots that occurred in California."

Regarding the deployment of the National Guard, he asserted, "If we had not done so, LA would have been completely devastated," adding, "The very incompetent Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass should say, 'President Trump, thank you very much. You are truly great. Without you, we would have been nothing.'"

Currently, in LA, the largest city in California and a Democratic stronghold, protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s large-scale crackdown on undocumented immigrants have continued for three consecutive days since June 6. After clashes broke out between protesters and the LA police over the weekend, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops on June 7 to suppress the protests. In response, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California and a potential Democratic presidential candidate, announced on the morning of June 9 that he would "file a lawsuit" against President Trump's order to deploy the National Guard.

President Trump said, "Instead, they (Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass) chose to lie to the people of California and the American public, claiming that we did not need the National Guard and that these were 'peaceful protests.' Just by looking at the photos and videos of the violence and destruction, you can see everything for yourself."

He also emphasized, "We will always take whatever measures are necessary to protect the safety of our citizens. By doing so, together we can make America great again."