Trump likens LA protests to foreign ‘invasion’ as Newsom tries to block him from using troops

Members of the California National Guard stand guard outside the Edward R Roybal Federal building after days of protests against federal immigration sweeps and the deployment of the National Guard and Marines in downtown Los Angeles (Picture: Reuters)

President Donald Trump compared the Los Angeles protests to a foreign ‘invasion’ as California’s governor asked a court to block him from using the military.

Speaking at a military rally in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Trump said that he deployed ‘thousands’ of National Guard troops as well as Marines to protect law enforcement in LA.

‘Generations of army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness,’ said Trump late afternoon Tuesday.

‘What you’re witnessing is a full-blown assault on peace and public order.’

Moments earlier, California Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency motion in federal court to block Trump from using National Guard soldiers and Marines to support immigration raids in the city.

‘Trump is turning the US military against American citizens,’ wrote Newsom on X (formerly Twitter).

About 700 Marines arrived in LA earlier on Tuesday, on top of 4,000 National Guard members that Trump already ordered there.

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