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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has formally requested Trump administration officials to rescind the order to deploy the National Guard and return control of the force to California, calling the initial order unlawful and "intentionally designed to inflame the situation."
"I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command," Newsom wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California."
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has pledged to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has conducted numerous Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, some of which have swept up individuals with proper documentation.
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President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that he had authorized the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles after reported violence against law enforcement, specifically, ICE agents carrying out deportation raids in the city.
While the raids are following legal directive from federal authorities, protests have erupted amid reports that detainees were being held in the basement of a federal building. ICE denied these allegations, with a spokesperson previously telling Newsweek the agency "categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles."
The clashes highlight deepening conflicts between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration policy, as Trump has implemented sweeping changes through executive orders and utilized the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expand deportation authority.
What To Know
In a letter posted under his message, Newsom addressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, telling the secretary that "at present, law enforcement authorities from the City and County of Los Angeles are safe guarding public safety, and, as demonstrated by the robust law enforcement response yesterday evening to protect federal facilities, local law enforcement resources are sufficient to maintain order."
"In dynamic and fluid situations such as the one in Los Angeles, state and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources to safeguard life and property. Indeed, the decision to deploy the National Guard, without appropriate training or orders, risks seriously escalating the situation," Newsom wrote.
"There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, and to do so in this unlawful manner and for such a lengthy. Serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation, while simultaneously depriving the state from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required," Newsom added.
"Accordingly, we ask that you immediately resend your order and return the National Guard to its rightful control by the state of California, to be deployed as appropriate when necessary."
Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have maintained that the decision to deploy the National Guard without California requesting it is unlawful and will only inflame the situation.
Speaking with CNN on Sunday evening, Bass said: "To me, it is most important that everybody be allowed to exercise their First Amendment right, but it absolutely has to be done peacefully now with federal troops on the ground, we do not need to have our city under siege."
She added: "I don't think that is a way to bring peace in Los Angeles. I think that our law enforcement officers can handle this situation, but I just have to repeat again, it's a feeling here of intentional chaos in a situation that had not broken out to violence short of a few people, and there's nothing unusual about that, and our police departments can manage that, but it is as though troops were rolled out in a provocative manner, and I do not see how that is helpful to Los Angeles right now. It's not the type of resources that we need in the city."
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What People Are Saying
White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Newsweek in an emailed statement: "President Trump rightfully stepped in to restore law and order because of Gavin Newsom's feckless leadership and his refusal to stop the violent attacks on American law enforcement. It's a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved. Everyone saw the chaos, violence, and lawlessness - unless of course, Gavin Newsom doesn't think any of that is a problem."
California Gavin Newsom earlier on Sunday wrote on X: "Trump is trying to manufacture a crisis in LA County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos. Don't take the bait. Never use violence or harm law enforcement."
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve. I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Democratic Governors Association in a press release said: "President Trump's move to deploy California's National Guard is an alarming abuse of power. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state's governor is ineffective and dangerous."
"Further, threatening to send the U.S. Marines into American neighborhoods undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement," the statement continued.
"It's important we respect the executive authority of our country's governors to manage their National Guards — and we stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation," the statement read.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear if the Trump administration will listen to Newsom's request, with recent language indicating that the National Guard will remain in the city for the time being.
Bass during a press conference on Sunday evening said she had no idea how long the National Guard would remain in the city, saying, "That's the problem," and that she had been given different dates and times and no clear picture.
Update 6/8/25, 7:14 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information, context, and comment.
Update 6/8/25 8:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comment.
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