As President Trump deployed the military and National Guard to confront protests in Los Angeles, many locals felt he was “waging war” against the city.
The situation in Los Angeles — a city of nearly 4 million people in California — has grown increasingly tense in recent days. It began with immigration raids conducted by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency over the past weekend, spreading fear among one of the largest undocumented immigrant communities in the U.S. and sparking mass protests.
Then, President Donald Trump decided to send approximately 4,000 National Guard troops to the city, further escalating tensions and sometimes leading to violent clashes.
Anxiety continued to sweep through the city as Trump supported the idea of arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom and mobilizing 700 Marines to reinforce the National Guard troops in Los Angeles.
Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the Trump administration of manufacturing a crisis for political gain, while residents condemned what they viewed as an attack on their city.
“I think he’s waging war against us, the people of Los Angeles. He’s picking the wrong fight,” said D.J. Yoon, a protester outside Los Angeles City Hall.
Protesters confront security forces in Los Angeles, California, on June 9. Photo: AP
California and Los Angeles have long been in Trump’s crosshairs, as he frequently described both as “hellholes” controlled by Democrats. His administration is considering unprecedented federal funding cuts for California, which could seriously impact the state’s budget.
No U.S. president has deployed the National Guard to a state without the governor’s request in over 60 years. Trump’s move has ignited a tense standoff between the federal government and California leadership.
Governor Newsom criticized the president’s action as “a step toward authoritarianism,” while California filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the National Guard deployment.
In response, Trump labeled Newsom “incompetent,” accusing the governor of failing to ensure public safety, forcing him to dispatch the National Guard to counter what the White House described as “an insurrection.”
After days of chaos, Los Angeles residents entered the new week with growing concerns about what may come next, and growing frustration over what they see as the president’s overreaction.
MaryAnne Kennedy, an 82-year-old resident of the Fairfax district, expressed her “depression and shame” over recent events. Kennedy moved from Canada to the U.S. in 1980 and later became an American citizen. She has recently found herself questioning whether that decision was the right one.
For Ken and Sandy Yamashiro, longtime Japanese-American residents of Los Angeles, the immigration raids and National Guard deployment bring back memories of a dark chapter for Japanese Americans during World War II.
“My family was put into internment camps. They were taken away based on appearance and skin color. It was terrifying,” said Sandy, 70.
Ken, 72 and retired, worries that Trump’s threats to cut funding may soon target areas beyond Los Angeles. “Now everyone is a target, and he’s only been in office for six months. In the next three and a half years, he could go after anyone,” Ken said.
Local life has been severely disrupted. Jaime Valdivia, a 46-year-old Mexican-American café owner in Boyle Heights, said ICE’s constant raids have driven away customers, as people are afraid to go out.
Meanwhile, James Young, a Panamanian-American living in East Los Angeles, supported the National Guard’s deployment to restore order. He expressed anger over the protests, images of burning vehicles, and rock-throwing at police.
“Protesters are everywhere. Without anyone to stop them, they’ll keep destroying things,” he said.
However, Young was uneasy with some of ICE’s actions, arguing they should focus only on deporting convicted criminals rather than raiding restaurants and supermarkets where immigrants work. “That’s wrong. Nobody likes that,” Young added.
This sentiment is shared by many Angelenos, who have condemned raids and arrests targeting neighbors, coworkers, and family members. Stephanie Mendoza, 30, joined the June 8 protest with three friends, all children of immigrants in Los Angeles. Mendoza felt compelled to speak out.
“We’re all U.S. citizens, but we’re here for those who aren’t,” said Mendoza, whose parents immigrated from Honduras. She now works for a local nonprofit that assists refugees.
National Guard troops guard a federal building in Los Angeles on June 9. Photo: Reuters
David Madrick, an artist living downtown, was walking his dog on June 9 while mentally preparing for more waves of protests. He expressed his frustration with the increasing military presence.
“This isn’t normal. What’s going on? It’s exhausting,” he said.
Madrick, who moved from New York to Los Angeles six years ago, understands the vital role undocumented immigrants play in the city’s economy and community.
“They keep the lights on, serve the food, and make everything run,” he said, sending a message to Trump: “You won’t intimidate us. It’s a huge mistake to do this in this state.”
Meanwhile, Tom Homan, whom Trump appointed as “border czar” to crack down on illegal immigration, rejected claims that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard has fueled the protests in Los Angeles.
“That’s ridiculous. The situation in Los Angeles completely depends on the actions of the protesters. They are the ones making the decisions,” Homan emphasized.
Los Angeles Mayor Accuses Trump of Attempting to Strip Local Authority
The Mayor of Los Angeles has accused the Trump administration of deploying federal forces to California in an attempt to test how far federal power can override state and local authority.
“When the immigration raids began, President Donald Trump’s administration claimed they would only target criminals. But that’s not what happened. The immigrants being detained do not match their stated criteria,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference on June 9, referring to the large-scale ICE operation that took place in the city over the weekend.
Los Angeles has become the epicenter of a growing standoff between President Trump’s administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom over ICE’s immigration enforcement raids. Trump has deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to support ICE in the city, despite strong opposition from both Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass.
Bass stated that residents are living in fear, unsure when and where the next ICE raid might occur. “It feels like the city is being used as a testing ground — gauging the response as the federal government attempts to strip power away from state and local authorities,” she said.
She criticized the ICE raids for disrupting daily life, accusing agents of arbitrarily targeting schools, businesses, and even ambushing legal immigrants who were complying with scheduled check-ins with federal authorities.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks at a press conference on June 9. Photo: Reuters
The wave of protests erupted in Los Angeles on June 6 after at least 44 people were arrested during ICE raids. These actions are part of Trump’s broader national crackdown on immigration, marked by widespread arrests and deportations across the country.
The mayor asserted that the chaos and rising tensions in Los Angeles are a direct result of federal intervention from Washington.
“On June 5, our city was peaceful. The next morning, everything changed when federal agents launched the raids,” she said.
Mayor Bass rejected the Trump administration’s characterization of Los Angeles as being “overrun by illegal immigrants and criminals,” and of the protesters as “violent mobs attacking federal agents.”
“These are fabricated narratives about our city. This is a time for Los Angeles to unite, not allow such language to divide us. We are a city of immigrants, and we take pride in that,” she emphasized.
U.S. Marines prepare for deployment to Los Angeles on June 9. Photo: Reuters
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem accused the protests in Los Angeles of being part of an “organized operation,” claiming protesters were being paid to incite unrest — though she provided no specific evidence.
“They have their own signals within the crowd to trigger violence. This is a professional campaign. They’ve done it before, and we will stop and prosecute every one of them,” she asserted, adding that ICE had targeted “400 to 500 gang-affiliated individuals” in Los Angeles that day.
Protests Spread Across Multiple U.S. Cities Over Immigration Crackdown
Protests against President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown have spread to numerous cities across the United States, remaining mostly peaceful, though some clashes have erupted.
According to NBC News, at least 25 demonstrations and marches took place in cities nationwide on June 9–10 in opposition to the administration’s aggressive ICE raids. While some marches drew only dozens of participants, others attracted thousands of protesters.
In New York City, thousands gathered in Lower Manhattan on the evening of June 10 to denounce Trump’s deportation orders and immigration policies. Protesters assembled outside two federal buildings housing immigration courts and began marching under heavy police presence.
Many demonstrators carried signs reading “ICE out of New York,” while others chanted, “Why are you in riot gear? I don’t see a riot here.”
The New York Police Department confirmed multiple arrests, though the charges have not been disclosed.
Police detain a protester in New York City on June 10. Photo: AFP
Anti-immigration raids also triggered demonstrations across several Texas cities. In Dallas, hundreds of protesters marched across a city bridge for hours on the night of June 9 before police declared the gathering an “unlawful assembly” and ordered dispersal under threat of arrest.
Initially, Dallas police had posted on social media that they would not interfere with peaceful assemblies protected under the First Amendment. However, officers later deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd after some protesters threw objects at law enforcement. At least one person was arrested.
In Austin, the Texas state capital, four officers were injured during clashes with demonstrators who marched between the state capitol building and a nearby federal building housing ICE offices. Authorities closed the capitol building an hour early in response to the protests.
Police used pepper spray after protesters began spray-painting the federal building. Some protesters threw rocks, bottles, and other objects at police barricades. Thirteen individuals were arrested.
Austin police are preparing for another protest scheduled for June 14 in the city center. “Peaceful protest is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, posted on X.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed that Governor Abbott had deployed National Guard troops to the city in anticipation of further protests this week.
Governor Abbott’s spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris, stated on the evening of June 10 that military personnel were “positioned in areas where large protests are anticipated, ready to respond if necessary.”
Protesters rally against the immigration crackdown in Chicago, Illinois, on June 10. Photo: AFP
In Chicago, Illinois, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, crowds gathered outside immigration courts downtown, demanding an end to ICE raids and federal military deployment in California.
“It’s time for us to take to the streets and let President Trump know that militarizing Los Angeles is unacceptable. All of these actions are unconstitutional,” said protester Gary Snyderman in Chicago. By day’s end, more than 1,000 people had joined the peaceful protest.
In San Francisco, California, around 200 protesters rallied outside the San Francisco Immigration Court on June 10 after activists reported several arrests by police.
Previously, thousands participated in protests against the ICE raids on June 8–9. More than 150 people were arrested for acts of vandalism, including damaging buildings, cars, police vehicles, and buses. Two police officers were injured, though their injuries were not life-threatening..
“In San Francisco, people are always free to exercise their First Amendment rights, but violence — especially against law enforcement — will never be tolerated,” the San Francisco Police Department posted on social media.
According to police, the June 9 demonstrations initially remained peaceful, but two smaller groups broke off and engaged in vandalism and other offenses.
Protesters rally against the immigration crackdown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 9. Photo: AFP
Smaller protests also occurred on June 10 in Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado, where demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Abolish ICE” and condemned mass deportations.
In Santa Ana, California, authorities deployed armored vehicles to block access to the Civic Center, where federal immigration offices and various local agencies are located. National Guard troops armed with rifles prevented people from entering the area.
Pro-Trump supporters also staged counter-protests on June 10, including one man wearing a red shirt and a “Make America Great Again” hat.
In Boston, Massachusetts, hundreds gathered at Boston City Hall Plaza on June 9 to protest the arrest of labor union leader David Huerta, who was detained during the June 6 ICE raid in Los Angeles.
Protesters held signs reading “Massachusetts stands with our neighbors in Los Angeles” and “Protect our immigrant neighbors.” Huerta was released on June 9 after posting $50,000 bail.
Map: Cities experiencing protests against immigration raids across the U.S. Source: AP
Some union members also rallied in Washington, D.C., on June 9, demanding Huerta’s release and denouncing the federal immigration crackdown. They marched past the Department of Justice headquarters.
Activists nationwide are planning larger protests in the coming days, including a series of “No Kings” events set to coincide with the U.S. Army’s birthday parade in Washington on June 14.
Elon Musk says he regrets some social media posts he made about Trump
Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday said he regretted some of the social media posts he made about U.S. President Donald Trump last week during an explosive public dispute with his former close ally.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk said on the X social media platform.
The feud dissolved a tight partnership that had propelled Musk to spearhead the budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s second administration, fueling market concerns over the outlook for the tech tycoon’s Tesla and SpaceX businesses. Immediately after the row, the electric vehicle automaker saw its biggest ever hit, with shares since recouping losses.
Last week’s conflict was sparked by Musk’s opposition to the Trump-backed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” tax and spending bill. In a CBS interview, Musk said that the package “undermines” the work of DOGE, further blasting it on social media by saying it would substantially increase the U.S.′ budget deficit. The Trump administration has refuted this point.
Over the weekend, Trump said there would be consequences for Musk if he supported Democratic candidates challenging the tax and spending bill. At the time, the president noted that he had no plans of speaking with Musk — before changing tack on Monday to indicate he would not have a problem if Musk called.
After the storm
The row, carried out simultaneously over the X and Truth Social media platforms owned by Musk and Trump, respectively, posed immediate threats to the tech billionaire’s ventures.
Critically, the U.S. president suggested terminating government contracts and subsidies awarded to Musk’s companies. Musk meanwhile threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft — which is currently the only U.S. choice for bringing crew to and from the International Space Station — before quickly walking back his statement.
The storm showed signs of settling by the weekend. As of Saturday, Musk appeared to have deleted some of his social media posts that had contributed to the ramped-up conflict with the White House leader, including an update in which he had accused Trump of being mentioned in the “files” of late sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. The White House had disputed the allegation.
A post in which Musk replied “yes” to a social media user calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vice President JD Vance also appeared to have been deleted.
In turn, Trump on Monday said he was planning to retain the Starlink technology, a satellite internet service that is part of Musk’s SpaceX, at the White House
