Los Angeles [US], June 11: California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharply criticised former President Donald Trump’s military deployment in Los Angeles, calling it a “brazen abuse of power,” The New York Times reported. His remarks came during a televised address on Tuesday, just before an 8 p.m. citywide curfew enforced by Mayor Karen Bass took effect.
The curfew followed days of escalating clashes between protesters and law enforcement across Los Angeles. As National Guard troops and federal officers began conducting raids throughout the city, California officials attempted to block the operation with an emergency court order. The order aimed to restrict military presence to safeguarding federal properties downtown—where protests have largely been concentrated.
The unrest in Los Angeles mirrored similar scenes nationwide. In downtown Chicago, demonstrators reportedly vandalized police vehicles and hurled water bottles at officers. In New York’s Lower Manhattan, arrests were made near federal buildings. Atlanta police used chemical agents to clear protesters off a highway, highlighting rising tensions between law enforcement and demonstrators.
Trump, addressing troops in North Carolina earlier Tuesday, described Los Angeles as “a trash heap” and vowed to “liberate” the city. He also warned that protests planned for Wednesday in Seattle, St. Louis, and Indianapolis would be met with “equal or greater force.”
The New York Times reported that nearly 5,000 National Guard troops and Marines had already been deployed in the greater Los Angeles area. A federal judge has scheduled a Thursday hearing on California’s request to restrict the federal government’s use of military force in the city. Additionally, the state has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s takeover of California’s National Guard units.
Since Friday, over 330 people have been arrested in Los Angeles alone, with more than 240 detained in San Francisco and others in cities such as Austin, Texas.
Social media has also played a controversial role in the crisis. Misleading videos and images have been widely circulated online, reviving conspiracy theories and backing Trump’s crackdown—often targeting immigrants and Democratic leaders.
In a final statement to reporters, Trump acknowledged Americans’ right to protest but warned of a heavy-handed response to any disruptions during Saturday’s planned military parade in Washington: “They’re going to be met with very big force.”