‘Can't Call In National Guard...’: Trump's 2020 Video Goes Viral Amid Los Angeles Riots

Last Updated:June 10, 2025, 09:03 IST

Trump deployed Guard troops in Los Angeles to quell pro-immigration protests. This was criticised by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who vowed to sue President for it.

Donald Trump deploys Guard troops in Los Angeles (AP Image)

Amid tensions mounting between Donald Trump and California Democrats over his decision to deploy Guard troops to Los Angeles to stop pro-immigration protests, the US President’s 2020 video has gone viral, in which he said he “can’t call in the Guard unless requested by a governor."

In a televised interview with ABC nearly five years ago, Trump had cited “going by the laws", according to which the Governor has to request for the Guard to control an escalating situation in the state.

“I have restored law and order. Except in Democrat-run cities. We have to go by the laws. We can’t move in the Guard. I can call insurrection, but there’s no reason to ever do that, even in a Portland case. We can’t call in the Guard unless we’re requested by the governor," he said in the old video that has now resurfaced after his Guard decision in 2025.

Los Angeles Riots

Notably on Monday, in a dramatic escalation of tensions, California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to sue Trump for the deployment of Guard troops in Los Angeles, accusing his administration of violating federal laws by cracking down on pro-immigration protesters.

Hours after this announcement, Trump ordered the deployment of an additional 700 US Marines, besides the 4,000 Guard personnel already in place in the city.

Newsom said that the Trump government’s decision to arrest the protesters from the city through the deployment of Guard without consultation with the Governor is “illegal and immoral". Notably, the Guard is controlled jointly by the federal and state governments in the US.

Trump reacted sharply to Newsom’s criticism and dubbed him “incompetent" and described his call to move in the Guard as “a great decision".

“We made a great decision in sending the Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated. The very incompetent “Governor," Gavin Newscum, and “Mayor," Karen Bass, should be saying, “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR." Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are ‘peaceful protests’," Trump posted on Truth Social.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world ‘Can't Call In Guard...’: Trump's 2020 Video Goes Viral Amid Los Angeles Riots