As Anti Immigration Enforcement Riots Continue in Downtown Los Angeles, Trump Calls in the National Guard

On June 7, 2025, protests erupted in downtown Los Angeles in response to aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city. The demonstrations, which began Friday night after ICE arrested at least 44 people, escalated into Saturday with significant unrest. Protesters, chanting slogans like "Free them all" and holding signs demanding "Full Rights for All Immigrants" and "Stop the Deportations," clashed with authorities, blocked streets, and in some instances set fires, including to a car in Paramount, Los Angeles County. The protests centered around the Los Angeles Federal Building and spread to areas like the 101 Freeway, which was briefly shut down.

In response, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell what some sources described as "riots" and "lawlessness." Federal agents and local police, including Los Angeles sheriff's deputies, were reported using riot gear, with tensions peaking as protesters faced off against authorities. The National Guard was federalized to assist ICE and local law enforcement in dispersing the demonstrations and restoring order.

These events reflect heightened public backlash against intensified immigration enforcement operations in the city.

On June 7, 2025, President Trump referred to California Governor Gavin Newsom as "Newscum" in a Truth Social post, criticizing Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the protests against ICE raids in downtown Los Angeles.

The nickname, which Trump has used previously, was part of a broader statement accusing them of failing to do their jobs, particularly in response to the unrest that prompted Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city.

The term "Newscum" appears to be a derogatory play on Newsom's name, reflecting Trump's ongoing criticism of Newsom's governance, as seen in earlier instances like comments on California’s water management and wildfire response. Newsom has previously dismissed the nickname as juvenile, likening it to something a "seventh or eighth grader" might say.