President Trump ripped into California’s “incompetent” leadership and called for a ban on face coverings as masked protesters clashed with federal agents conducting immigration raids across Los Angeles.
Trump called out California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass for their alleged mishandling of violent riots in response to the ICE raids that wrangled up over 100 illegal immigrants — including gang bangers and drug traffickers — this past week.
“We have an incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) who were, as usual (just look at how they handled the fires, and now their VERY SLOW PERMITTING disaster. Federal permitting is complete!), unable to handle the task,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial Sunday morning.
Rioters caused carnage in the streets of Los Angeles County on Saturday, which forced Trump to call for 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles despite Newsom’s objections.
The troops were set to arrive in the area within 24 hours, US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli told the New York Times.
The violent protesters burned down cars, lit fires, threw rocks and fireworks at police and graffitiied vulgar phrases including “F–K ICE” and “KILL ICE.”
Trump blasted the nameless protesters as “troublemakers” and called for a ban on face coverings as the violent demonstrations wreak havoc in California.
“These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests,” Trump said.
“What do these people have to hide, and why?” he questioned.
Footage captured a chaotic scene in Paramount, Calif., as hundreds of protesters filled the streets and faced off against federal agents in riot gear, in an attempt to impede apprehensions by Border Patrol near a Home Depot.
Law enforcement agents fired tear gas at the restless crowd.
One violent protester in a face-covering helmet hurled rocks at the windows of cars right outside the super store — cracking some Border Patrol pick-up trucks in the windshield, according to viral video.
At least a dozen “agitators” were arrested Saturday for their involvement in the unrest, Essayli announced.
Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem warned rioters of arrests if they harmed law enforcement officers.
Trump praised the National Guard troops he had called in to take over crowd control operations to quell the unrest.
“Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest,” Trump wrote.
Newsom claimed Trump’s orders were what caused the chaos in his state.
“The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves,” Newsom wrote on X.
The 78-year-old commander in chief had already called out Newsom and Bass earlier Saturday before he ordered the National Guard.
“If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!,” the president.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Department of Defense was mobilizing the National Guard while nearby military bases were put on alert.
“If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,” Hegseth wrote on X Saturday.
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