Donald Trump’s “Border Czar” Tom Homan said Saturday the administration is planning to send in the National Guard Saturday evening to quell protests in Los Angeles.
“This is about enforcing the law, and again, we’re not going to apologize for doing it,” Homan said on Fox News. He continued: “We’re already ahead of the game. We were already mobilizing. We’re gonna bring National Guard in tonight. We’re gonna continue doing our job. We’re gonna push back on these people, and we’re gonna [enforce] the law.”
On Saturday night, following Homan’s on-camera remarks, both national Democratic and Republican figures were scrambling to figure out if he was just mouthing off, or if the federal troops were actually on their way, or just … what the hell was going on.
Two Trump administration officials say they learned about the alleged National Guard plans from journalists such as Rolling Stone’s who had reached out to them on Saturday evening, asking for clarification.
Homan did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
“The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote on Bluesky Saturday evening. “That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.”
He added, “LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment’s notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need. The Guard has been admirably serving LA throughout recovery. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.”
The president can request, but not order, a governor to deploy their state’s National Guard. The governor can refuse the request, and Trump would not be allowed under the Constitution to send National Guard troops to California from other states. However, the Trump administration has previously mulled invoking the Insurrection Act, which could allow the president to deploy the U.S. military domestically, federalize the National Guard, and send in troops to quell uprisings or civil disorder.
Editorializing beyond here:
The Insurrectionist invokes the Insurrection Act.
He did not invoke the Insurrection Act and a Bluesky post says...
I mean, he can attempt that, but uh... yeah, it is extremely cut and dry clear that the only way this is legal, constitutional... is if he invokes the Insurrection Act.
Otherwise it is a clear and plain violation of Posse Comitatus.
But uh... well I guess the state of California is going to have to start sueing the Federal government literally right now and ... somehow expedite this up to the Supreme Court with unimaginable haste, if we want any chance of a legal ruling and potential stop this via formal law...
What will actually occur is the Cali Nat Guard members called into this will have to decide right fucking now where their loyalties lie.
... and, potentially, whether or not they are willing to defend that decision with force of arms.
Just... Throw it over there on the pile
Ah, I am getting tempted to make yet more predictions. But my Soothsayer Hat will stay off. I'll just say - I'm waiting with bated breath for what happens - especially tomorrow.
Yeah, this is fundamentally unpredictable chaos.
I'll just be looping RATM's Battle of Los Angeles untill further notice.
The riot be the rhyme of the unheard.
You made me curious what Tom Morello tweeted about what's happening in LA - https://xcancel.com/tmorello/with_replies
The answer? Nothing. That's not a joke. Nothing. 9 hours ago he retweeted a 90 second vid. And that's it.
... perhaps he is currently literally in the protests?
I have no idea, I don't keep tabs on him lol.
Could be. But I think he's only in it for the money now. Also on my list for tomorrow - check Morello's Twitter account.