Trump Jumps at the Chance for a Confrontation in California Over Immigration

The New York Times ^ | June 8, 2025 Updated June 9, 2025, 11:07 a.m. ET | Tyler Pager

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The situation has all the elements that the president seeks: a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his agenda.

It is the fight President Trump had been waiting for, a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his political agenda.

In bypassing the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, a Democrat, to call in the National Guard to quell protests in the Los Angeles area over his administration’s efforts to deport more migrants, Mr. Trump is now pushing the boundaries of presidential authority and stoking criticism that he is inflaming the situation for political gain.

Local and state authorities had not sought help in dealing with the scattered protests that erupted after an immigration raid on Friday in the garment district. But Mr. Trump and his top aides leaned into the confrontation with California leaders on Sunday, portraying the demonstrations as an existential threat to the country — setting in motion an aggressive federal response that in turn sparked new protests across the city.

As more demonstrators took to the streets, the president wrote on social media that Los Angeles was being “invaded and occupied” by “violent, insurrectionist mobs,” and directed three of his top cabinet officials to take any actions necessary to “liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion.”

“Nobody’s going to spit on our police officers. Nobody’s going to spit on our military,” Mr. Trump told reporters as he headed to Camp David on Sunday, although it was unclear whether any such incidents had occurred. “That happens, they get hit very hard.”

The president declined to say whether he planned to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, which allows for the use of...

[Jeff Chandler]

I remember newspapers.

[oldplayer]

Where’s decorated Capitol Police Officer Michael Bird when you could really use him?

[alancarp]

Fixed: “Trump Jumps at the Chance to Support Federal Employees Executing Their Sworn Responsibilities”

[Opinionated Blowhard]

No bias in that headline. I hope he also “jumps at the chance” to link these riots to Soros and his crew, and sends them to jail.

[ansel12]

I also see this as great for us and bad for the left.

[lee martell]

This,”eye of the storm” kind of confrontation is much preferred to last week’s back and forth conflict with Elon Musk. Trump is acting as I want my president to do in such circumstances.

[montag813]

“Trump Pounces!!!”

[Vaduz]

Trump needs to remove the government’s tit from California it’s no longer useful to the people it’s an institution for socialism now.

[MrRelevant]

Who confronted who again? Last I checked ICE were peacefully picking up rapists and murderers in this country illegally until they were confronted.

[Cobra64]

Trump should have eliminated the Soros cartel back in 2016. Drones work.

[Cobra64]

Pounces? What a joke. Trump should send a SWAT team to Sacramento, slap Newsom in chains, and put him in a general holding cell with the MS13 boys.

[lastchance]

If I was seeking out the U.S. most perfect ahole I would be faced with an embarrassment of riches. But the NYT always manages to narrow down the search.

[Mariner]

“Mr. Trump is now pushing the boundaries of presidential authority”

I’m so sick of this sh!T.

Arrest the editors of the NYT for aiding/abetting an insurrection.

Trump is 100% legal and 100% right in this. Yet NYT wants to imply he’s not.

[popdonnelly]

What about the Democrats? Anyone think they’re not trying to use this to their advantage?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What about the Democrats? Anyone think they’re not trying to use this to their advantage?

How is being on the 20% side of the issue an advantage?

[Bookshelf]

“... over his administration’s efforts to deport more migrants,... Leave it to the sleazy NYTimes to call illegal aliens ‘migrants.’