California Gov. Gavin Newsom ripped into President Trump Tuesday for a “brazen abuse of power” by deploying troops to Los Angeles and claimed his political rival is intentionally causing ongoing chaos in the city.
The Democratic governor heightened his feud with Trump during a Tuesday night address while pleading with protesters to remain peaceful as the city grapples with outright lawlessness and Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew in the downtown area to clamp down on rioting and looting.
Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstrations began last Friday in response to federal raids against illegal migrants in the West Coast city and quickly spiraled out of control – leading Trump to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops, and then 700 United States Marines over Newsom’s objections.
“This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk,” Newsom argued.
“That’s when the downward spiral began. He doubled down on his dangerous National Guard deployment by fanning the flames even harder. And the president, he did it on purpose.”
Newsom insisted while there was violence when protests first erupted, local authorities largely had the situation under control before Trump stepped in.
Trump’s actions spurred unrest and placed “theatrics over public safety,” the left gov. claimed.
Newsom has filed legal actions to stop the controversial deployment.
While Newsom was issuing a defiant rebuke against Trump, the president vowed to “liberate” Los Angeles while delivering a speech at Fort Bragg Tuesday.
He said the federal government would “use every asset at our disposal to quell violence and restore law and order.”
The two have been lobbing attacks at each other since the weekend as Los Angeles has faced a mix of fiery protests, looting, vandalism and clashes with police.
Newsom stressed authorities have already arrested more than 200 people and are looking to take more into custody.
He pleaded with protesters not to turn to violence.
“If you incite violence – and I want to be clear about this – if you incite violence or destroy our communities, you’re going to be held to account. That type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated, full stop.”
With Post wires
