Tensions are escalating between President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to grip Los Angeles and spread to New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Texas, and other cities.
Trump deployed about 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA against Newsom's wishes.
A federal appeals court Thursday delayed an order requiring the Trump administration to return control of the National Guard to Newsom, dealing the administration a temporary reprieve to what would have been a major reversal of its policy on the protests.
House Republican 'concerned' about ICE operations in LA
While most House Republicans are standing behind President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy Marines and the National Guard to Los Angeles, one moderate Republican, Rep. David Valadao of California, issued a rare criticism of the administration’s operation.
"I remain concerned about ongoing ICE operations throughout CA and will continue my conversations with the administration -- urging them to prioritize the removal of known criminals over the hardworking people who have lived peacefully in the Valley for years," Valadao, who represents an agriculture-heavy district in Central California, wrote on social media.
He said while he supports the right to peacefully protest, "the violence and vandalism happening in Los Angeles is unacceptable and I stand with our law enforcement officers working to protect people and regain control over the situation."
-ABC News’ Lauren Peller
Jun 10, 2025, 1:09 PM EDT
Trump says he'd 'certainly invoke' Insurrection Act if there is 'insurrection'
President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he would use the Insurrection Act as a response to the protests, and he responded, "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We will see."
"These are paid insurrectionists, these are paid troublemakers," the president claimed, without evidence.
Members of the California Nationa Guard stand watch outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building on Tuesday morning, following another day of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, on June 10, 2025.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
"If we didn’t get involved" and send the National Guard, "right now Los Angeles would be burning, just like it was burning a number of months ago with all the houses that were lost," Trump said, referencing the January wildfires.
On Sunday, when asked by ABC News if he thought an insurrection was taking place in LA, Trump replied, "No, no. But you have violent people, and we are not going to let them get away with it." But by Sunday night, he was referring to the protesters on his Truth Social platform as "violent, insurrectionist mobs" and "paid insurrectionists."
Asked to define insurrection, Trump said, "You actually really just have to look at the site to see what's happening."
Members of the California National Guard stand watch outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building on the morning of June 10, 2025, following another day of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Trump told reporters Tuesday that he called Newsom on Monday.
"Called him up to tell him, 'Gotta do a better job,'" he said.
But Newsom wrote on social media that the president never called.
"There was no call. Not even a voicemail," Newsom wrote. "Americans should be alarmed that a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to."
Jun 10, 2025, 12:41 PM EDT
Mexican president reacts to LA protests
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is criticizing the U.S. for "criminalizing" migration, noting that Mexican immigrants are largely law abiding and are necessary for the U.S. economy.
"The Government of Mexico reiterates its unwavering commitment to the protection and defense of the human rights of Mexicans abroad, regardless of their immigration status," she said in a statement Tuesday. "We make a respectful but firm call to the U.S. authorities to ensure that all immigration procedures are conducted with adherence to due process within a framework of respect for human dignity and the rule of law."
Protesters gather outside of the Robert Young Federal Building on June 9, 2025 in Downtown Los Angeles, California.
Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
Sheinbaum also called out the LA protesters who turned to violence and destroyed property.
"The burning of patrol cars seems more like an act of provocation than resistance," she said. "We condemn violence from wherever it may come. We call on the Mexican community to act peacefully and not to fall into provocations."
-ABC News’ Will Gretsky
Jun 10, 2025, 11:59 AM EDT
Speaker Johnson: Newsom should be 'tarred and feathered'
House Speaker Mike Johnson would not weigh in on whether California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested -- a suggestion made by President Donald Trump -- but said the governor should be "tarred and feathered."
"Look, that's not my lane. I'm not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested, but he ought to be tarred and feathered. I’ll say that," Johnson said Tuesday at the weekly GOP news conference. "He's standing in the way of the administration and the carrying out of federal law, right? He is applauding the bad guys and standing in the way of the good guys."
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing after an "Invest in America" roundtable with business leaders at the White House, June 9, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
"Do your job, man. That's what I tell Gavin Newsom," Johnson added. "Stop working on your rebranding and be a governor. Stand up for the rule of law."
Newsom clapped back on social media, writing, "Good to know we’re skipping the arrest and going straight for the 1700’s style forms of punishment. A fitting threat given the @GOP want to bring our country back to the 18th Century."
Johnson said Trump's actions sending Marines and National Guardsmen to LA is "full in his authority" to "maintain order."
"President Trump has put his hand on the table and said, 'Not on my watch,' and we applaud that, so we’re standing with him," he said.
"We've got to protect them [federal law enforcement], and federal employees, as well, and federal buildings and property," Johnson said. "We're not going to let violent criminals destroy the property of U.S. taxpayers."
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday blasted Trump sending the National Guardsmen to LA, noting how she urged Trump to send in the guard during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol -- when rioters attacked law enforcement and destroyed property -- but the president refused to do so.