Colorado Democratic officials condemn federalization of National Guard in Los Angeles
Anti-ICE demonstrators marched through the streets of Denver after a rally at the Colorado Capitol on June 10, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)
After President Donald Trump federalized National Guard troops against anti-ICE demonstrators in Los Angeles, Colorado Democratic leaders say the move is an overreach and would oppose similar actions in the state.
Trump has ordered a detachment of 700 U.S. Marines and thousands of National Guard troops to deploy to L.A. over the objections of state and local leaders, the first such move by a U.S. president since 1965. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has sued to block the deployments, which he said 'crossed a red line.' Trump on Monday suggested Newsom, whom he did not accuse of any crime, should be arrested.
Shelby Wieman, spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, said Polis 'has been clear' he would not support 'federal overreach to activate the National Guard outside of regular order,' as the Colorado National Guard plays an important role in helping the state and others with natural disasters and emergencies as needed.
'There is absolutely no need to take away National Guard units from the states, and any engagement with National Guard on this topic must include Governors, who serve as commanders in chief in most instances for their Guard,' Wieman said in a statement.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
A spokesperson for the Colorado National Guard said Tuesday it 'has not received an official request for support' from the federal government.
The memorandum Trump issued authorizing the military escalation is not specific to Los Angeles or California, leaving open the potential for similar responses in other states. Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, told NPR that the conditions that would ordinarily warrant military action are not present in this situation.
Colorado protests have grown since the escalations in L.A., with more than 1,000 people gathering outside the Colorado Capitol Tuesday night. Attendees began marching down two of the main roads around the Capitol and were met by a line of law enforcement officers after blocking traffic. Police arrested 17 people in relation to the demonstration.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston told Newsline that in his lifetime, Marines or National Guard troops have never been deployed into an American city without an 'emphatic plea for help' from the city.
'America is built on the belief that we can ensure public safety and free speech. We don't have to choose just one,' Johnston said in a statement. 'This is not support. This is turning American soldiers on American citizens in service of Trump's own political theatre. That decision disrespects the Marines and National Guard, disrespects American citizens, and disrespects the rule of law.'
In a post on X, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Centennial Democrat and Army veteran, said federalizing the National Guard should always be a 'last resort' when local law enforcement cannot alone handle a situation. He urged Trump to reverse course given that both the mayor of L.A. and Newsom made clear they did not need military support.
'The reason for this is simple: introducing military personnel into domestic law enforcement situations is an escalation and can put both the military personnel and civilians on the ground at additional risk,' Crow said in the post.
Crow detailed in a separate thread on X that Trump's deployment of the military in American communities is concerning because military personnel receive 'very little training in law enforcement and domestic disturbance' as they are trained for 'high-intensity combat operations.' He said Trump is trying to 'intimidate Americans and suppress opposing views.'
Trump's executive order authorizing the use of 'ANY personnel, in ANY location, for ANY length of time' is 'a dangerous slippery slope' that should concern Americans everywhere, Crow said.
'Sending military personnel with combat equipment and heavy weapons into tense domestic situations rarely deescalates. We have often seen deadly consequences and the erosion of public trust,' Crow said. 'The servicemembers being mobilized signed up to protect Americans and their rights, not to be deployed against their fellow citizens.'
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Windsor Republican and staunch Trump ally, has shown support for the military escalation in California online and criticized Democrats for 'trash talking' military and law enforcement personnel.
'If the feckless progressives in California won't restore order, our U.S. Marines are more than up to the task,' she posted on X.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
28 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Appeals court won't reconsider ruling that Trump must pay E. Jean Carroll $5M in sex abuse case
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court won't reconsider its ruling upholding a $5 million civil judgment against President Donald Trump in a civil lawsuit alleging he sexually abused a writer in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s. In an 8-2 vote Friday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump's petition for the full appellate court to rehear arguments in his challenge to the jury's finding that he sexually abused advice columnist E. Jean Carroll and defamed her with comments he made in October 2022. Carroll testified at a 2023 trial that Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack after they playfully entered the store's dressing room. A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld the verdict in December, rejecting Trump's claims that trial Judge Lewis A. Kaplan's decisions spoiled the trial, including allowing two other Trump sexual abuse accusers to testify. The women said Trump committed similar acts against them in the 1970s and in 2005. Trump denied all three women's allegations. In an opinion Friday, four judges voting to reject rehearing wrote: 'Simply re-litigating a case is not an appropriate use' of the process. 'In those rare instances in which a case warrants our collective consideration, it is almost always because it involves a question of exceptional importance,' or a conflict between precedent and the appellate panel's opinion, Judges Myrna Pérez, Eunice C. Lee, Beth Robinson and Sarah A.L. Merriam wrote. All four were appointed by President Joe Biden, Trump's one-time Democratic rival. The two dissenting judges, Trump appointees, Steven J. Menashi and Michael H. Park, wrote that the trial 'consisted of a series of indefensible evidentiary rulings.' 'The result was a jury verdict based on impermissible character evidence and few reliable facts,' they wrote. 'No one can have any confidence that the jury would have returned the same verdict if the normal rules of evidence had been applied.' Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement: 'E. Jean Carroll is very pleased with today's decision.' 'Although President Trump continues to try every possible maneuver to challenge the findings of two separate juries, those efforts have failed. He remains liable for sexual assault and defamation,' said Kaplan, who is not related to the judge. Trump skipped the trial after repeatedly denying the attack ever happened. He briefly testified at a follow-up defamation trial last year that resulted in an $83.3 million award. The second trial resulted from comments then-President Trump made in 2019 after Carroll first made the accusations publicly in a memoir. Kaplan presided over both trials and instructed the second jury to accept the first jury's finding that Trump had sexually abused Carroll. Arguments in that appeal are set for June 24. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Carroll has done. ___ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
New York Times
29 minutes ago
- New York Times
U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel Say Their ‘Partnership' Is Sealed
U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced on Friday that they had entered into an agreement with the U.S. government to seal the terms of a 'partnership' between the companies, more than a year after the Japanese steel maker first tried to buy its U.S. competitor. Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., under pressure from the United Steelworkers union, blocked the deal on the basis that it was a threat to national security. President Trump, who also initially opposed the deal, reversed himself and decided to look for a way to revive it. The companies referred to the deal as a partnership, echoing language that Mr. Trump used in describing the transaction he blessed three weeks ago. But U.S. Steel has not indicated to shareholders that it has altered the $14.9 billion sale to Nippon that they approved in April last year. 'We thank President Trump and his administration for their bold leadership and strong support for our historic partnership,' the companies said in a statement. 'This partnership will bring a massive investment that will support our communities and families for generations to come.' The companies said they had entered into agreement with the U.S. government to alleviate any security concerns posed by the deal, known as a national security agreement, which calls for roughly $11 billion in new investments by 2028. The deal will also give the U.S. government a 'golden share' in the company, a rarely used practice through which the government takes a stake in company. In the United States, the government has typically taken a stake only in companies that are ailing or in particular need of government attention, like General Motors during the 2008 financial crisis. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Business Insider
30 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Dow Jones Index Today: DJIA Drops on Israel Strikes as Consumer Sentiment Jumps
The Dow Jones (DJIA) is down by over 1% as the market processes the impact of Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear and military facilities. Meanwhile, oil prices are surging as the conflict threatens to disrupt energy supply chains in the Middle East. Confident Investing Starts Here: On Friday, President Trump said that Israel's strikes will actually be a positive for the market. 'I think ultimately, it would be great for the market because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. It will be great for the market—should be the greatest thing ever for the market. Iran won't have a nuclear weapon that was a great threat to humanity,' said Trump in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Trump also added that he was aware of the attack before it occurred and that he plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment has finally reversed a six-month slump based on the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment. The index's preliminary June reading came in at 60.5, above the estimate for 53.5 and up from 52.2 in May. Furthermore, UM's year-ahead inflation expectation tallied in at 5.1% compared to 6.6% last month. Long-run inflation expectations are now at 4.1%, down from 4.2%. Which Stocks are Moving the Dow Jones? Let's shift our attention to TipRanks' Dow Jones Heatmap, which illustrates the stocks that have contributed to the index's price action. In a weak finish to the week, every single technology stock within the index is falling, led by Salesforce (CRM) and Nvidia (NVDA). In addition, payment providers Visa (V) and American Express (AXP) are taking a hit after the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon (AMZN) and Walmart (WMT) are exploring the idea of issuing proprietary stablecoins. Elsewhere, communications services, energy, and healthcare, excluding embattled UnitedHealth Group (UNH), are relatively muted as we head into the weekend. DIA Stock Moves Higher with the Dow Jones The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track the movement of the Dow Jones. In addition, DJIA can't be bought or sold, although DIA can be. Wall Street believes that DIA stock has room to rise. During the past three months, analysts have issued an average DIA price target of $466.70 for the stocks within the index, implying upside of 9.82% from current prices. The 31 stocks in DIA carry 30 buy ratings, 1 hold rating, and zero sell ratings.
