President Trump has just pulled a historic move by deploying the California National Guard to quell chaos in Los Angeles, overriding the objections of state and local leaders.

This unprecedented decision marks the first time in six decades that a president has federalized a state’s National Guard without the governor’s approval, as reported by the New York Post. It’s a bold step rooted in a little-known statute, and it’s got California Democrats fuming.

The unrest in Los Angeles erupted over immigration enforcement actions, with anti-ICE protesters clashing violently in the streets. Trump administration officials, including White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, have labeled the riots a “violent insurrection” against national authority. Well, if you’re attacking federal agents, don’t be shocked when the feds fight back.

Historic Use of Federal Power

This move hinges on a rarely invoked section of the U.S. Code, 10 U.S.C. 12406, which grants the federal government authority to mobilize the National Guard during a rebellion or threat against U.S. authority. The last time a president took such action without state consent was in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson, who sent troops to protect civil rights marchers in Alabama.

Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing California’s leadership, taking to Truth Social in the early hours of Sunday to blast Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as “incompetent” for failing to manage the crisis. If you can’t keep your city from burning, maybe it’s time to step aside and let the grown-ups handle it.

Vice President JD Vance echoed the administration’s hardline stance, decrying the riots as an attack on border enforcement by “insurrectionists carrying foreign flags.” It’s a stark reminder that enforcing the law isn’t negotiable, no matter how loudly some shout otherwise.

California Leaders Push Back Hard

Gov. Newsom didn’t mince words, accusing the federal government of “sowing chaos” to justify escalating the situation. “The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle,” he posted on X. Sounds like someone’s more worried about optics than order.

Mayor Bass also expressed alarm, warning on KNX radio about the risk of further unrest due to federal intervention. “I’m very concerned about the potential civil unrest if there was federal intervention,” she said. Yet, when protests turn violent, sitting on your hands isn’t exactly a winning strategy.

Newsom urged calm, pleading with protesters to “speak out peacefully” and avoid violence. But with National Guard troops already arriving in Los Angeles County on Sunday, the time for words might be running short.

Administration Defends National Guard Deployment

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended the deployment, arguing that the violent protests were obstructing ICE agents from addressing a “dangerous invasion” linked to foreign terrorist organizations, specifically Mexican trafficking cartels. He even hinted at readying U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton for possible action. That’s not overreach; that’s a clear message—law and order will prevail.

Hegseth didn’t shy away from countering critics, responding to Newsom’s claim that using active-duty troops is “deranged” by retorting, “Deranged = allowing your city to burn & law enforcement to be attacked.” When federal agents are under siege, turning a blind eye isn’t leadership—it’s negligence.

Border Czar Tom Homan upped the ante, warning NBC News that “someone is going to lose their life” if the protests continue unchecked. He even suggested that Newsom and Bass could face Justice Department scrutiny over their handling of the crisis. Perhaps it’s time for some accountability in California’s corner offices.

Local and Federal Tensions Escalate

Rep. Nanette Barragán, whose district includes Paramount, insisted on CNN’s “State of the Union” that local law enforcement has the situation under control and doesn’t need National Guard support. “We haven’t asked for the help. We don’t need the help,” she argued. But if the streets are still simmering, that confidence might be more wishful than warranted.

Newsom also dredged up a past statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who once cautioned against federal overreach in state National Guard matters. It’s a clever jab, but pointing fingers at hypocrisy doesn’t douse the flames of unrest.

As 2,000 National Guard soldiers take position in Los Angeles, the divide between state and federal authority couldn’t be starker. Trump’s administration sees this as a necessary stand against chaos and a direct threat to national security. Meanwhile, California’s leaders cry foul, claiming this is all a staged power grab—yet the violence speaks louder than their protests.