Republicans and Democrats traded sharp remarks on Sunday after US President Donald Trump sent the National Guard to Los Angeles amid widespread protests against increasingly divisive immigration raids.
“We must remember that Trump does not seek healing or order. He seeks to foment conflict and division,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy in one of the most explicit rebukes.
“His supporters don't believe in democracy or the right to protest – and if they get the opportunity to undermine the rule of law, they will take it.”
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker criticized Trump for sending troops without California’s consent, warning that it would only exacerbate tensions. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he accused Trump of hypocrisy and pointed to his inaction on January 6, 2021, when thousands of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, as well as his subsequent pardons of those arrested.
Video shows at least a half-dozen military vehicles and riot shields outside a federal building in Los Angeles on Sunday, and law enforcement using pepper spray on demonstrators protesting ICE actions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Trump have clashed over the protests, with Newsom criticizing the federal response as excessive, arguing that Trump is seeking a “spectacle,” while the president has chided Newsom for failing to maintain order.
The National Guard clashed with protesters just hours after arriving in Los Angeles at Trump's behest… Read more
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump's decision Sunday, saying he was not concerned about the National Guard deployment, adding: “One of our core principles is to maintain order through force. We do that in international affairs as well as domestic affairs. I don't think it's excessive.”
Republican Senator James Lankford noted that Trump is trying to calm tensions, pointing to instances in which protesters threw objects at law enforcement officers.
He recalled similar 2020 unrest in Seattle and Portland, where the National Guard assisted local law enforcement during racial justice protests.
The protests against the raids have become the latest focus in a national debate about immigration, the right to protest, and the use of federal force in domestic affairs. They have also catalyzed discussions about the limits of presidential power and the public's right to dissent.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
