Trump allies hit out as media call LA riots ‘an immigration protest'
The US media has come under fire from allies of Donald Trump for referring to the violent unrest on the streets of Los Angeles as 'protests'.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that the president had ordered the National Guard to the city to 'quell immigration protests'.
Lauren Boebert, a Republican congresswoman, then wrote on X: 'To the media reporting on the situation in Los Angeles. The word you're looking for is insurrection.
'Not protests. Definitely not 'mostly peaceful protests'. Insurrection!'
JD Vance, the US vice-president, said 'insurrectionists' were responsible for the violence, adding: 'For the far-Left rioters, some helpful advice; peaceful protest is good. Rioting and obstructing justice is not.'
The clashes in LA on Saturday were described as protests by CBS, ABC and CNN. Fox News and The New York Post, which support Mr Trump, referred to them as riots.
Pictures taken overnight showed demonstrators launching fireworks towards police lines, as well as cars and shopping trolleys on fire.
Fox News published a video showing a van driven by border officials being attacked with rocks as they attempted to leave the scene of clashes in Paramount, California.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, responded to the video: 'This is a violent insurrection.'
Trouble broke out after immigration raids were carried out across LA throughout the week.
As many as 118 arrests linked to immigration were made in LA this week, which Gavin Newsom, the California governor, described as 'cruel'.
Mr Trump responded to the violence in Los Angeles on Saturday night by ordering 2,000 National Guard soldiers to LA. The first troops arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning.
'Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest … These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will not be tolerated,' Mr Trump posted on social media early on Sunday.
Deploying the National Guard is a provision that is usually enacted by the state governor, and Mr Newsom described the order as 'unnecessary' and 'purposefully inflammatory'.
Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, warned that active duty Marines would be 'mobilised' if violence in Los Angeles continued, which Mr Newsom said was 'deranged'.
On Saturday, a car was set on fire in the middle of an intersection in LA. Two individuals circled the car on motorbikes, as one waved a Mexican flag.
The LA sheriff's department said it had arrested one person in Paramount, where two officers were treated in hospital for injuries.
The department also said one car was burnt and that a fire at a shopping mall had been put out.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Bloomberg
22 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Newsom Tells Trump's Border Czar to 'Arrest Me, Let's Go'
Civil rights lawyer Robert McWhirter weighs in on the legal basis for President Donald Trump sending in National Guard troops to handle the anti-deportation violent protests in Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, dared Trump's border czar to "arrest me, lets go." McWhirter says he'd take Newsom's case. (Source: Bloomberg)

22 minutes ago
White House breaks ground on Trump projects to pave over Rose Garden grass, add flagpoles to lawns
WASHINGTON -- The White House broke ground Monday on construction projects ordered by President Donald Trump to pave over the grass in the Rose Garden and install flagpoles on the north and south lawns. The projects are part of a series of personal touches that Trump, a real estate developer turned politician, has added or is adding to the Executive Mansion and its grounds since he opened his second term in January. The projects also include new artwork of himself on walls and gold-toned flourishes in the Oval Office. He also wants to add a ballroom. Reporters on Monday noticed that work had begun in the Rose Garden, just off the Oval Office on the south grounds, when they were taken out to the South Lawn to wait for Trump to return on the Marine One helicopter from an overnight at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Photos showed that a limestone border that first lady Melania Trump had added during a Rose Garden renovation project in her husband's first term had been removed in some places and the grass had been dug up in others spots. Employees of the National Park Service, which maintains the White House grounds, started the work on Monday, according to a White House official. The project is set to be completed in about two months, or the first half of August, said the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on intended changes to the Executive Mansion and spoke on the condition of anonymity. After stepping off the helicopter, Trump walked over to a bulldozer that was on the South Lawn to start digging a foundation for one of two flagpoles he promised in April. One flagpole will be added to the South Lawn, and the second will be installed on the North Lawn, he said. Trump said he was installing two 'beautiful' flagpoles 'paid for by Trump' on the grounds because 'they've needed flagpoles for 200 years.' The American and POW/MIA flags fly on the roof of the White House every day. The Republican president said months ago that he would pave over the Rose Garden because the grass there is always wet and an inconvenience for women in high heels. It was unclear if he planned to pay for this project. Last week, Trump posted on his social media site about the ballroom he promised, 'compliments of a man known as Donald J. Trump.' He wrote on Friday that he had inspected the site for the ballroom, saying it will be a 'wonderful addition' and is an example of the ''fun' projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events.'


Hamilton Spectator
24 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
White House breaks ground on Trump projects to pave over Rose Garden grass, add flagpoles to lawns
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House broke ground Monday on construction projects ordered by President Donald Trump to pave over the grass in the Rose Garden and install flagpoles on the north and south lawns. The projects are part of a series of personal touches that Trump, a real estate developer turned politician, has added or is adding to the Executive Mansion and its grounds since he opened his second term in January. The projects also include new artwork of himself on walls and gold-toned flourishes in the Oval Office. He also wants to add a ballroom. Reporters on Monday noticed that work had begun in the Rose Garden, just off the Oval Office on the south grounds, when they were taken out to the South Lawn to wait for Trump to return on the Marine One helicopter from an overnight at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. Photos showed that a limestone border that first lady Melania Trump had added during a Rose Garden renovation project in her husband's first term had been removed in some places and the grass had been dug up in others spots. Employees of the National Park Service, which maintains the White House grounds, started the work on Monday, according to a White House official. The project is set to be completed in about two months, or the first half of August, said the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on intended changes to the Executive Mansion and spoke on the condition of anonymity. After stepping off the helicopter, Trump walked over to a bulldozer that was on the South Lawn to start digging a foundation for one of two flagpoles he promised in April. One flagpole will be added to the South Lawn, and the second will be installed on the North Lawn, he said. Trump said he was installing two 'beautiful' flagpoles 'paid for by Trump' on the grounds because 'they've needed flagpoles for 200 years.' The American and POW/MIA flags fly on the roof of the White House every day. The Republican president said months ago that he would pave over the Rose Garden because the grass there is always wet and an inconvenience for women in high heels. It was unclear if he planned to pay for this project. Last week, Trump posted on his social media site about the ballroom he promised, 'compliments of a man known as Donald J. Trump.' He wrote on Friday that he had inspected the site for the ballroom, saying it will be a 'wonderful addition' and is an example of the ''fun' projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events.' ___ Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at . 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 .