Los Angeles: US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declared that the administration will not allow a "repeat of 2020" as President Donald Trump deploys the National Guard to restore order in Los Angeles amidst protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Noem emphasized during her CBS News interview on Face the Nation that the administration is committed to preventing a recurrence of the unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. Floyd's death, at the hands of police officer Derek Chauvin, sparked widespread protests and led Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to deploy the state's National Guard, a decision Noem criticized as "very bad."
In response to the recent protests in Los Angeles, California Governor Gavin Newsom insisted that the situation was under control. However, Noem argued that Newsom's decision-making has been poor, prompting the federal government to intervene for community safety. President Trump authorized the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles County under Title 10 authority following confrontations between immigration officials and protesters.
Governor Newsom condemned Trump's decision as "purposefully inflammatory," arguing that it would only heighten tensions and claiming there was no unmet need for such federal intervention. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton might be mobilized if violence continues.
Noem expressed hope that local leaders would take responsibility for managing the unrest, while pointing out Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's alleged refusal to acknowledge the dangerous situation. She reiterated that ICE and Homeland Security are handling operations, with Trump ultimately making the crucial decisions regarding troop deployments.