By Olatunbosun Obafemi
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump, accusing him of “disrespecting” U.S. National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles in response to ongoing immigration protests.
Tensions flared after photos emerged of uniformed soldiers sleeping on floors in cramped government buildings, prompting a flurry of condemnation from the governor.
“You sent your troops here without fuel, food, water or a place to sleep,” Newsom wrote on X, sharing images of troops lying shoulder to shoulder on the floor. “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego. This is reckless, pointless, and disrespectful to our troops.”
The Trump administration recently ordered the deployment of over 2,000 additional National Guard members to Los Angeles, bringing the total federalized force in the area to over 4,100, according to the Pentagon. Newsom, however, claims that only 300 of the new arrivals have actually been deployed, while others remain idle inside federal buildings without clear directives.
In a legal escalation, Newsom’s office filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of overstepping its authority by bypassing state consent. The suit asserts that the federal government’s unilateral deployment violates state sovereignty and marks yet another misuse of emergency powers.
Trump responded defiantly, suggesting during a press briefing that Newsom should be arrested for obstructing federal orders. “I would do it, if I were Tom,” Trump said, referencing former acting ICE director Tom Homan. “It would be great.”
The clash underscores deepening political divisions between the White House and state leaders, with both legal and constitutional implications still unfolding.
