Trump’s National Guard deployment ignites partisan fury as AOC says GOP ‘owns this’

Lawmakers are currently divided over the chaos that has erupted in Los Angeles, with President Donald Trump federalizing the National Guard for the first time in 60 years. The protests in downtown LA, rejecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, led to escalating tensions and riots, prompting the Trump administration to deploy National Guardsmen and Marines to the city.

While Republicans have largely condemned the violence in Los Angeles, Democrats have accused the Trump administration of exacerbating the situation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has been at the forefront of Democrats’ rejection of the Trump administration’s actions in LA.

Representative Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, believes that the riots in LA are a direct result of sanctuary city policies. On the other hand, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also rumored to have 2028 presidential ambitions, holds the Trump administration responsible for the chaos, accusing them of intentionally creating social unrest.

The clash between the two parties has intensified, with Senator Alex Padilla from California being forcibly removed and handcuffed by authorities after attempting to confront Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in LA. This incident has only fueled the fire between Republicans and Democrats.

While Republicans like Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina view Democrats’ anti-ICE rhetoric as dangerous and potentially deadly, Democrats like Representative Rashida Tlaib from Michigan argue that the protests are not anti-ICE but rather pro-constitutional rights and due process.

The decision to federalize the National Guard in LA marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has deployed the Guard without the governor’s request since the civil rights march in Alabama in 1965. A federal judge recently ruled that Trump must return control of the California National Guard to Governor Newsom, but an appeals court quickly overturned that decision.

The White House has defended its actions, stating that the President’s authority as Commander in Chief was lawfully exercised to mobilize the National Guard to protect federal buildings and personnel in Los Angeles. The situation remains tense, with both parties standing firm in their beliefs.

It is clear that the chaos in Los Angeles has become a political battleground, with both Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers and assigning blame. As tensions continue to rise, it remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved.