Trump’s National Guard Move in LA Anti-ICE Protests Fuels Chaos, Critics Say

President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles amid anti-ICE protests has sparked fierce debate, with critics arguing it’s fanning the flames of unrest rather than dousing them. The demonstrations, fueled by outrage over federal immigration raids, turned violent over the weekend, with protesters vandalizing vehicles, damaging buildings, and clashing with police. Trump’s move to send in troops was meant to restore order, but it’s being called an overreach that’s only escalating tensions.

Local law enforcement had largely managed the protests, which saw isolated acts of violence, including an assault on a federal officer and rocks thrown at police vehicles. Yet, the arrival of the National Guard has drawn sharp criticism. California Governor Gavin Newsom blasted the deployment, accusing Trump of manufacturing chaos to justify a heavy-handed response. Newsom’s social media post laid it bare: local cops didn’t need help, but Trump’s troops arrived, destabilizing the situation and necessitating even more law enforcement to clean up the mess.

The unrest in LA, marked by tear gas and an ‘unlawful assembly’ declaration by the LAPD on Sunday night, underscores a deeper issue: the delicate balance of using military force domestically. Critics argue that deploying the National Guard for civil unrest, rather than natural disasters or health crises, risks turning streets into battlegrounds. Historical precedent shows presidents treading cautiously here, wary of the legal and societal implications. The FBI is now hunting for a suspect accused of assaulting a federal officer, a reminder of the real dangers law enforcement faces amid the chaos.

While no one condones the violence—LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell called attacks on officers ‘disgusting’—Trump’s critics say his approach is less about law and order and more about projecting strength, even at the cost of stability. The scenes of tear gas in downtown LA paint a grim picture: a city on edge, where federal intervention might be doing more harm than good.