Despite violent clashes between members of the state national guard and anti-immigrant enforcement protesters, Donald Trump has vowed to “liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion.”
The president took to Truth Social on Sunday, promising that “the Illegals will be expelled” and that the city would be “set free,” as troops confronted demonstrators on the streets of downtown Los Angeles, using tear gas and “less lethal munitions” to disperse the crowds.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals,” wrote the president in a tweet. “Now, violent insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents in an attempt to halt 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 collaboration with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all necessary action to free Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion and put an end to the Migrant Riots.
“Order will be restored, illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be free.” Thank you for paying attention to this matter!”
Tensions rose throughout the day on Sunday, following unrest the previous evening. Images showed vehicles on fire and protesters throwing fireworks at armed and helmeted law enforcement officers.
Police and demonstrators later clashed outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, with graffiti reading “f*** ICE” and “f*** LAPD” on nearby buildings. On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department declared that the city was on “tactical alert.”
The force later stated that an unlawful assembly had been declared in a portion of the city, with a dispersal order issued and arrests made.
Clashes erupted after ICE operations in Los Angeles County resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants, including 44 on Friday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump also told reporters on Sunday that the administration was “going to have troops everywhere,” threatening to follow through on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s promise to send in U.S. Marines to help maintain order.
When asked what “the bar” was for mobilizing active-duty Marines, the president said, “The bar is what I think it is.”
“We are going to have troops everywhere, we are not going to let this happen to our country, we are not going to let our country be torn apart like it was under Biden.”
Trump also coined a new phrase in response to the ongoing unrest in Los Angeles. “When they spit at people—they spit, that is their new thing—when that happens, I have a little statement: they spit, we hit,” he told reporters on Sunday… If that happens, they are hit very hard.”
The phrase is reminiscent of a previous, controversial adage introduced by Trump during the 2020 protests – “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Despite the president’s provocation, officials in Los Angeles urged residents to remain calm, with Governor Gavin Newsom telling Californians, “Do not give Donald Trump what he wants.”
“Speak up.” Maintain a peaceful attitude. Remain calm. “Do not use violence and respect the law enforcement officers who are doing their best to keep the peace,” Newsom wrote on X. He later stated that the president was “trying to manufacture a crisis in Los Angeles County — deploying troops not for order, but to create chaos.”
“Do not take the bait. Never use violence against law enforcement.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass had similar strong words, telling KTLA on Sunday morning that she was “very disappointed” with the president’s response. “To me, this is just completely unnecessary, and I think it is the [Trump] administration just posturing,” she told reporters.
“I have spoken with the governor multiple times…I have not yet spoken with the president, but I have spoken with high-ranking officials in his administration, and I assured them that things were under control in the City of Los Angeles… To me, this is simply political.
Bass, like Newsom, later issued a strong statement on X, writing: “Deploying federalized troops in the aftermath of these raids is a chaotic escalation.
“The fear that people are experiencing in our city right now is very real; it pervades our communities and families, putting our neighborhoods at risk. This is the last thing our city needs, and I urge protesters to be peaceful.