Trump sparks showdown with California Democrats over immigration protests: From the Politics Desk

NBC News

4 hours ago

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.
In today's edition, we break down our latest reporting on the fallout from a weekend of tense immigration protests in Los Angeles. Plus, Ben Kamisar digs into Republicans' opening line of attack in the critical Georgia Senate race.
— Adam Wollner
Trump sparks showdown with California Democrats over immigration protests
Tensions continued to escalate today between President Donald Trump's administration and California's Democratic leaders over the protests that erupted over the weekend in response to a series of ICE raids in Los Angeles.
Here's the latest:
Marines mobilized: About 700 Marines have been mobilized to support the National Guard in protecting federal personnel and property in Los Angeles, according to two Defense Department officials. The mobilization is temporary until more California National Guard troops arrive, the sources said.
Heading to court: California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he is suing the Trump administration for deploying 2,000 members of the National Guard to Los Angeles, calling it an 'infringement' on Gov. Gavin Newsom's authority.
Bonta noted that Trump's move was the first time the guard had been activated without a governor's consent since 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson deployed troops in Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators. (Here's a quick history of previous presidents' federalizing the National Guard.)
'We did the right thing,' Trump told reporters Monday, adding the 'place would be burning down' if they hadn't.
Arrest threats: On Saturday, Trump's 'border czar,' Tom Homan, threatened arrest for anyone who obstructs the immigration enforcement effort, including Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — though he acknowledged that neither had yet 'crossed the line.'
In an interview for MSNBC with NBC News' Jacob Soboroff, Newsom called Homan's bluff, urging him to 'just get it over with.'
'He's a tough guy. Why doesn't he do that? He knows where to find me,' Newsom said. 'That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let's go.'
Bass said Trump 'didn't inherit a crisis — he created one.'
Trump doubled down on Homan's warning Sunday, saying that 'officials who stand in the way of law and order' will 'face judges.' He then told reporters today that 'I would do it if I were Tom.'
But two White House officials told NBC News that, as of now, federal officials and Trump are not seriously looking into plans to arrest Newsom or Bass.
Protest fallout: At least 56 people were arrested this weekend as protesters were ordered to leave downtown Los Angeles and law enforcement shot 'less-lethal' rounds. Demonstrators spilled out onto the 101 Freeway, while others set fire to Waymo driverless cars. More protests were planned today.
On Truth Social, Trump called the protestors 'insurrectionists,' adding: 'IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT.'
Republicans seeking to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., in one of the key races of the 2026 midterm elections are already leaning heavily into attacks over transgender athletes in women's sports.
In recent weeks, two GOP-aligned outside groups have launched ads about the issue. And GOP Rep. Buddy Carter hit the airwaves with an ad prodding Ossoff on the issue soon after he launched his campaign.
Republicans have frequently leaned on culture war issues in recent years to excite the base and frame Democrats as out of touch, particularly in red-leaning states. And they're even more emboldened after Donald Trump bombarded Vice President Kamala Harris with an onslaught of ads that attacked her support for transgender people during the 2024 election.
But while Democrats are gearing up for a difficult re-election fight for Ossoff in a state Trump won narrowly last year, they think the issue will be drowned out by voters' concerns about Trump's handling of the economy. Even so, it's an issue for which Democrats lack a consensus about how to respond to GOP broadsides, as prominent members of the party grapple with whether to embrace protecting the transgender community as part of their values, deflect the question or come out against allowing transgender athletes in women's sports.
Ossoff is the only Democrat defending a seat in a state Trump won last year, making him far and away the top target for Senate Republicans. Still, some Republicans admit he will be difficult to beat, particularly now that Gov. Brian Kemp has decided not to seek the seat.
The early Republican criticism of Ossoff points to his vote on legislation in February that would have made it a Title IX violation (jeopardizing federal education funding) for states to allow transgender women and girls to participate in female sports. The bill failed to get the 60 votes it needed to advance in the Senate.
🗞️ Today's other top stories
💉 Sea change: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed the 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's independent vaccine advisory committee from their posts. Read more →
🚢 Trade talks: Senior U.S. and Chinese officials met in London to try to de-escalate the bitter trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies. Read more →
🪖 Hiring woes: The White House is struggling to find a new chief of staff and several senior advisers to support Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a series of missteps that have shaken confidence in his leadership. Read more →
💰 Musk's money: Trump said there would be ' serious consequences ' if Elon Musk funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favor of the GOP's sweeping domestic policy bill.Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said he would not accept campaign donations from Musk.
🔵 All politics is national: Voters in the New Jersey Democratic primary for governor say they are looking to support a candidate who will forcefully push back against Trump. Read more →
🗳️ 2026 watch: Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor who resigned because of the Justice Department's decision to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, is running as a Democrat for a competitive House seat in Pennsylvania. Read more →
⚖️ Bar fight: Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother lost his bid for president of the D.C. Bar, earning 3,490 votes to opponent Diane Seltzer's 34,982. Read more →