Trump says 'helped Los Angeles survive' as unrest continues: Top updates

Business Standard

3 days ago

The anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles, which began after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided several businesses on June 6, have now entered their sixth day as the enforcement officers fail to quell the unrest.
The protests, which were peaceful at first and began in downtown Los Angeles, soon turned violent as protesters resorted to vandalism. The protest spread to Paramount on June 7, and by June 11, t he anti-immigration protests spread to several cities, including Chicago, Austin, and Seattle, with many more protests lined up for the weekend when US President Donald Trump celebrates his 79th birthday along with the grand military parade, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army.
Politics over the Los Angeles protest has intensified as California Governor Gavin Newsom blamed Trump for deploying nearly 5,000 National Guard and members of the US Marines to quell the protest, accusing him of 'misusing his powers'. Newsom, a Democrat, said he believed the deployment of troops was not necessary. However, Trump called these protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy'.
With California filing a lawsuit against Trump's use of National Guard troops and the enforcement officers detaining as many as 400 people since June 7, here is a look at the recent developments in the Los Angeles protests:
1. President Trump on Wednesday (local time), while attending the 'Les Misérables' Opening Night at Kennedy Center with First Lady Melania Trump, said that he was proud of the work done in Los Angeles in curbing the riots. He said, 'I am very proud to have helped Los Angeles survive... If we didn't bring the National Guard and the Marines, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground, and that's not over yet... These are radical left lunatics that you're dealing with. They are tough, smart. They are probably paid many of them.'
2. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took to X to announce the extension of the curfew in the downtown area till Thursday morning. A curfew was imposed from 8 pm Tuesday to 6 am Wednesday. She wrote, 'Curfew remains in effect tonight 8 pm - 6 am for downtown Los Angeles to stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President's chaotic escalation.'
Bass also said, 'Los Angeles will not allow fear to be used as a weapon against Angelenos who make our city strong. My administration is working with community organisations, legal advocates, and local leaders to ensure that every resident knows their rights and has the support they need. This city stands united.'
A few simple truths: –Looting an Adidas store isn't justice. –Burning cities isn't speech. – @GavinNewsom isn't a good governor. And what's happening in Los Angeles aren't 'peaceful rallies' — they're third-world insurrection riots on American soil. pic.twitter.com/hc6Ym4gXdO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 11, 2025
3. As demonstrations against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown spread to other states, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CNN that Trump's order to federalise the National Guard in California to respond to the protests could extend to other states.
4. Associated Press reported that the US troops have now started detaining immigrants accused of trespassing on a recently designated national defence zone. Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the troops are prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement on US soil. However, an exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some instances.
5. Dozens of mayors across the Los Angeles area joined hands to demand that the Trump administration stops the raids which have been stepped up since the first protests at downtown Los Angeles began.