Violent anti-ICE riots have turned Los Angeles into a battleground, and now Governor Gavin Newsom wants to sue the Trump administration for sending help. For three days, 2,000 protesters have wreaked havoc, shutting down the 101 Freeway and attacking police with fireworks and concrete. President Trump, never one to shy away, ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to restore order, but Newsom calls it a federal overreach.
Protesters have torched driverless Waymo cars, looted stores, and waved Mexican flags atop burning wreckage, while Newsom claims local police have it under control, according to a report in the New York Post. The chaos began Friday, escalated Saturday with Trump’s troop order, and by Sunday, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell admitted his officers were “overwhelmed.” Newsom’s plan to sue, announced Sunday evening, pits state sovereignty against federal muscle in a city on edge.
On Friday, Newsom and Trump reportedly had a “civil” phone call, but by Sunday, the governor accused the president of lying about their talks. “I will never work for Donald Trump,” Newsom declared at a press conference, framing the troop deployment as a betrayal. Funny how “civil” conversations turn sour when political cameras roll.
Saturday saw protesters hurling commercial-grade fireworks—lethal enough to kill, per Chief McDonnell—at officers trying to hold the line. By Sunday, looters ransacked downtown stores, forcing police to declare an unlawful assembly zone. Three officers were injured, 27 rioters arrested, and the FBI slapped a $50,000 bounty on one suspect now on its “Most Wanted” list.
Newsom, in Los Angeles on Sunday, met with police and sheriffs to strategize, yet insisted local forces were “sufficient” to handle the chaos. “At present, law enforcement authorities are safeguarding public safety,” he wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, demanding the National Guard’s withdrawal. If cops are so capable, why are stores burning and freeways blocked?
Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social, calling the rioters “paid insurrectionists” and blasting Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass for their “horrible job.” His solution? “BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”—a move that’s got 300 National Guard already in LA and 1,700 more on standby.
Newsom’s Sunday letter to Hegseth labeled the Guard’s presence “unlawful,” claiming the Trump administration bypassed required coordination with his office. Bass echoed the outrage, calling the deployment a “chaotic escalation” that risks further violence. Both seem more upset about federal boots than the rioters setting their city ablaze.
By Sunday night, the Department of Defense upped the ante, warning that 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton could deploy if the riots did not cool off. Veterans protested outside the base, opposing military involvement in civilian unrest. Turns out, not everyone wants tanks rolling through LA’s streets.
Trump’s Saturday order for 2,000 National Guard troops was a direct response to the escalating violence, but Newsom’s team insists it’s unnecessary. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom posted on X, accusing the president of inflaming tensions. Funny, the freeway was shut down before any troops arrived.
Bass, siding with Newsom, warned that troops on the ground could spark “chaos” when there’s “no need” for them. “If you want there to be chaos, then have troops on the ground,” she said, doubling down on local control. Yet, with police overwhelmed and looters running wild, her confidence feels more like denial.
Newsom’s lawsuit, set to be filed Monday morning, aims to yank control back to California. “Rescind the order. Return control to California,” he demanded on X, framing it as a stand for state rights. But when your city’s burning, maybe pride takes a backseat to pragmatism.
Trump, unbothered, keeps the pressure on, insisting the riots are orchestrated by “troublemakers” who need a firm hand. His Truth Social posts paint Newsom and Bass as weak leaders failing Los Angeles. Harsh, but when driverless cars are flaming and cops are dodging fireworks, it’s hard to argue the city’s thriving.
Police resorted to pellets and tear gas, injuring protesters and media alike, as the riots showed no signs of slowing. Motorcycles crashed into police lines, and concrete blocks flew, turning downtown into a war zone. Yet Newsom’s focused on suing rather than stopping the carnage.
The FBI’s reward and “Most Wanted” listing signal federal resolve to crack down on the violence. With one suspect already targeted, the feds aren’t playing. Maybe Newsom could take notes on decisive action instead of courtroom posturing.
Los Angeles is caught in a tug-of-war between a governor allergic to federal help and a president eager to flex his muscle. Both sides claim to want peace, but rioters keep calling the shots. Actions have consequences, and right now, LA’s paying the price for leadership that’s more about egos than solutions.
