US President Donald Trump says California Governor Gavin Newsom has committed a crime, agreeing with a reporters suggestions to arrest him over his response to the riots across the state.
At the White House, Mr Trump was asked if some should “arrest him (Newsom)“, to which the US President responded, “I would do it”.
Mr Trump later said the crime Mr Newsom had committed was “running for Governor”.
“He’s done such a bad job,” Mr Trump said.
“What he has done to that State is like what Biden did to this country.”
The comment comes as California’s Governor announced the State will sue the Trump Administration after Mr Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to quell violent protests in Los Angeles.
Mr Newsom described the chaotic scenes as a “manufactured crisis” and accused Mr Trump of “creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the US constitution”.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the State’s sovereignty had been “trampled” by Mr Trump, calling the federalisation of the military reserve force “unnecessary, counterproductive, and most importantly, unlawful,” during a press conference on Monday.
Mr Bonta said the State will seek a court order declaring that Mr Trump’s use of the Guard was unlawful and ask for a restraining order to halt the deployment.
He said the suit will be filed later on Monday (local time).
Shortly after this announcement, Mr Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to double down on the ongoing unrest in Los Angeles, where protesters continue to clash with federal agents and local police.
The US President blamed Mr Newsom, who he referred to as “Newscum”, for the “catastrophic” riots.
“The Insurrectionists have a tendency to spit in the face of the National Guardsmen/women, and others,” he wrote.
“These Patriots are told to accept this, it’s just the way life runs. But not in the Trump Administration.
“IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!”
Sunday was the third day of the demonstrations against Mr Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region, the most intense yet, as the arrival of about 300 National Guard troops spurred anger and fear among many residents.
US officials said about 1,000 National Guard members were in the city under federal orders by midday on Monday.
The full 2,000 members authorised by the president were expected to be on the ground by the end of the day.
Law enforcement presence continues to be heavy, with police cars blocking the street in front of the federal detention facility that was a focus of the protests.
It could take days to clear the debris from burned cars and to clean off or paint over graffiti sprayed on buildings near the detention facility.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were “overwhelmed” by the remaining protesters.
He said they included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble.
Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend.
One was detained on Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.
– With AAP
https://thewest.com.au/news/world/los-angeles-protests-donald-trump-calls-for-gavin-newsoms-arrest-as-riots-escalate-as-more-troops-enter-c-18979727
