Trump defends troop deployment to L.A. amid immigration protests and state backlash

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Trump defends troop deployment to L.A. amid immigration protests and state backlash

(NBC)- The streets of downtown Los Angeles remained largely calm overnight after Mayor Karen Bass enforced a mandatory curfew in response to escalating protests over widespread federal immigration raids. The demonstrations, which began Friday, have sparked clashes between protesters and law enforcement, prompting sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom. While condemning the violence, Newsom placed the blame squarely on President Donald Trump for what he called an unnecessary escalation.

“I want to be clear about this: if you incite violence or destroy our communities, you’re going to be held to account,” Newsom said during a press conference. But he added, “He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety. We do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces, not in LA, not in California, not anywhere.”

President Trump, meanwhile, defended his decision to send thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles, despite objections from state and local officials.

“If we didn’t do this, Los Angeles would burn,” Trump said while speaking to soldiers in North Carolina. “It would be burning to the ground right now, just like the houses burned to the ground just a few months ago.”

The deployment has sparked outrage on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are demanding answers. During a tense exchange, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the cost of the operation.

“You asked about the situation in Los Angeles,” Hegseth responded, before McCollum interrupted, “I asked about the budget.” The Pentagon later revealed the deployment is projected to cost approximately $134 million.

As legal battles unfold—including a lawsuit filed by Governor Newsom to remove the troops—the Trump administration shows no signs of backing down. When asked if similar operations should be expected in other U.S. cities, the president responded simply: “Yeah.”

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