Fact Check: "California law enforcement have the writers under control before Trump stepped in"
What We Know
The claim suggests that California law enforcement had the situation under control prior to President Trump's intervention with federal troops. Protests erupted in Los Angeles in June 2025 following a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, which sparked significant unrest. Local law enforcement, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the California Highway Patrol, were actively managing the protests, which included both peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes (source-5).
Governor Gavin Newsom asserted that local law enforcement was capable of handling the protests without federal intervention, stating that the situation did not meet the criteria for federalization of the National Guard (source-1). Furthermore, experts noted that Trump's deployment of National Guard troops was unprecedented and lacked the necessary legal justification, as it was the first time since 1965 that a president called National Guard troops to respond to civil unrest without a governor's request (source-3).
Analysis
The evidence indicates that local law enforcement was actively engaged in managing the protests prior to Trump's intervention. Reports suggest that by the time federal troops were deployed, the protests had already begun to dissipate, indicating that local authorities were effectively controlling the situation (source-1).
However, the claim's context is important. While local law enforcement was present and managing the protests, the situation was still tense, with instances of violence reported. The Trump administration argued that the protests posed a threat to federal property and justified the deployment of troops under the Insurrection Act, which allows for federal intervention in cases of civil unrest (source-3). Critics, including Governor Newsom, contended that the conditions for such an intervention were not met and that the President's actions infringed on state sovereignty (source-2).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis varies. Government statements and legal analyses from credible institutions provide a solid foundation for understanding the legal implications of Trump's actions. However, media reports may reflect varying degrees of bias depending on the outlet, which should be considered when evaluating the overall narrative.
Conclusion
The claim that "California law enforcement have the writers under control before Trump stepped in" is Partially True. While it is accurate that local law enforcement was managing the protests effectively at the time of Trump's intervention, the situation was still volatile, and the justification for federal intervention remains contested. This complexity suggests that while local authorities were in control, the circumstances surrounding the protests were significant enough to warrant federal scrutiny, albeit controversially.
Sources
- President Trump agrees he's breaking the law in California ...
- Governor Newsom files emergency motion to block Trump's ...
- Trump and LA: What laws give him authority to send federal troops : NPR
- Trump officials vow to step up LA crackdown, Democratic ...
- June 2025 Los Angeles protests - Wikipedia
- Trump's intervention in LA is a political fight he is eager to ...
- How L.A. law enforcement got pulled into Trump's immigration fight ...
- Trump ignored Newsom in putting the National Guard in LA ...
