Trump says troops in LA to uphold 'law and order' as protests flare up for a third day

Demonstrations in Los Angeles have flared since Friday, drawing hundreds of protesters who are demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in the city.

Clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement have led to dozens of arrests and multiple injuries among police officers.

The situation escalated sharply when President Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops, declaring, “We’ll send whatever we need to make sure there’s law and order.”

Speaking to reporters under the wing of Air Force One before departing for Camp David, he said, “We’re not going to let this happen to our country. If we see danger to our country and our citizens, we will be very strong in terms of law and order.”

Outside a federal building housing a detention centre in downtown Los Angeles, tensions boiled over as Department of Homeland Security officers used tear gas, pepper spray, and non-lethal rounds to push protesters back.

Demonstrators regrouped, chanting: “ICE out of LA!” as they faced off with National Guard troops and local police officers.

The White House insists the Guard is being sent to “temporarily protect” federal personnel and facilities. But California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the move, calling it “purposefully inflammatory.”

He warned demonstrators not to escalate tensions, urging on social media: “Speak up. Stay peaceful.

Stay calm. Do not use violence and respect the law enforcement officers that are trying their best to keep the peace.”

Despite that appeal, protesters and federal agents remain locked in a volatile standoff. “We won’t back down,” one activist told the BBC. “We’re not afraid. We’re standing up for families being torn apart.”

On his Truth Social platform, Trump hardened his tone further, accusing demonstrators of attacking federal agents.

“Violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations,” he wrote.

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.”

He also confirmed he had instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to “take all such necessary action… to put an end to these Migrant riots.”

As criticism mounts, House Speaker Mike Johnson backed the president’s actions. “These are federal laws, we need to maintain the rule of law, and that is not what is happening,” he told ABC News.

Johnson added that Newsom had shown “an inability or unwillingness to do what is necessary.”

Trump refused to rule out broader military deployment if unrest spreads to other cities like Chicago or New York. “We're going to be watching it very closely,” he said, accusing protesters of spitting at officers.

“They spit, we hit,” he told a reporter. “That happens, they get hit very hard.”

Despite the heavy-handed federal response, crowds in Los Angeles remain defiant. On the ground, the standoff between protesters and federal forces shows no sign of easing, as the city braces for more unrest in the days ahead.