Trump announces a conservative media star, a GOP governor,and others for Homeland Security Advisory Council
President Donald Trump announced that conservative commentator Mark Levin, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters and former NYPD detective Bo Dietl will serve on the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
The president described service on the panel as a "big honor."
"I am proud to announce the formation of my revamped Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), which is comprised of Top Experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers. It is a big honor to serve on HSAC, and I know the new Members, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Mark Levin, Bo Dietl, and Joseph Gruters, will do an incredible job," the president declared in a post on Truth Social.
"Under Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's leadership, HSAC will work hard on developing new Policies and Strategies that will help us secure our Border, deport Illegal Criminal Thugs, stop the flow of Fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our Citizens, and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Congratulations to all!" he added.
Levin, a conservative talk radio show star and author, hosts the TV show "Life, Liberty, & Levin" on the Fox News Channel.
Last year, Trump urged Gruters to run for the role of Florida chief financial officer.
"RUN JOE, RUN! This is an Endorsement I would love to make," he declared in a March 2024 Truth Social post.
Gruters noted in a November post on X, "Whether via appointment or at the ballot box in 2026, I look forward to running for CFO as President Trump's endorsed candidate."
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Fla., who previously served as Florida's CFO, joined Congress this month after winning election to former Rep. Matt Gaetz's old seat in the Sunshine State's 1st Congressional District.
Patronis resigned from the Florida CFO role before the end of his term, and Gov. Ron DeSantis can appoint a replacement.
The Florida CFO election is slated to take place in 2026.
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Hundreds of Marines Deployed to Los Angeles Amid Protests
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Newsom's office trolls Trump using Star Wars voice
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Bass told reporters she was only aware of one demonstration that might happen Tuesday and doesn't "believe there's going to be a series of them." Monday marked the fourth straight day of demonstrations against immigration enforcement, and they extended beyond the Los Angeles area: Downtown Los Angeles: A complex of federal and municipal buildings has been a central area for protests. Demonstrators and police clashed in front of the Federal Building Monday evening. Protesters threw water and set off fireworks, and police fired "less lethal" weapons and tear gas. Several stores, including Apple and Adidas, were hit by looters, according to police. San Francisco: Thousands of people participated in "overwhelmingly peaceful" demonstrations, police said. Multiple individuals who broke away from the protests and committed criminal acts, including vandalism, were detained, authorities said. Santa Ana, Calif.: ICE raids took place in Orange County on Monday, which prompted protesters to gather outside the Santa Ana Federal Building. Police said what started as a peaceful gathering turned violent, with at least one person detained. New York City: Anti-ICE protests were held. Police said they arrested "multiple people" who blocked vehicles in front of federal buildings. Atlanta: A crowd gathered outside the ICE building and demanded the release of detainees. Dallas: Dozens of people gathered on the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge holding signs and waving flags in protest of Trump's immigration crackdown. Demonstrations were also held in other cities, like Boston, Seattle and Pittsburgh, that called for the release of David Huerta, a union leader who was detained in the Los Angeles protests and later released on a $50,000 bond. Around 300 National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles County on Sunday after Trump deployed them to protect federal property and personnel, without the consent of Newsom, a Democrat with whom he often spars. As governor, Newsom would normally retain control and command over the California National Guard. The White House said the deployment was necessary to "address the lawlessness" in the state and initially said 2,000 troops were being deployed. It's the first time in 60 years that a president has called in the National Guard without a state's request or consent. The last time was when President Lyndon Johnson sent the Guard to protect a 1965 civil rights march in Alabama. Newsom told MSNBC that Trump's federal mobilization of the National Guard was "an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act." The governor also alleged that Trump is the one to blame for the escalation in California, saying, "He's exacerbated the conditions. He's lit the proverbial match. He's putting fuel on this fire." Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, told NBC News that anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement would be arrested. When asked if that would include Newsom or Bass, he replied, "I'll say it about anybody. You cross that line, it's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job." Newsom responded to Homan's NBC interview on Sunday by saying: "He knows where to find me." Homan later clarified those remarks in an interview with Fox News. "The reporter asked me, well, could Governor Newsom or Mayor Bass be arrested? I said, 'Well, no one's above the law — if they cross the line and commit a crime, absolutely they can.'" He added: "There was no discussion about arresting Newsom." Meanwhile, Trump said he would support the governor's arrest. "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great. Gavin likes the publicity but I think it would be a great thing," Trump said Monday. In response, Newsom said: "This is a day I hoped I would never see in America." "I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism," he wrote on X. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, declined to weigh in on whether Newsom should be arrested, but said he did think the Democrat should be "tarred and feathered." The weekend's peaceful protests escalated into a massive crowd blocking the 101 freeway, vandalism, autonomous cars set ablaze, fireworks and other objects thrown at law enforcement, police firing rubber bullets (including at an Australian journalist) and dozens of arrests by the LAPD. On Sunday: Crowds gathered in downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights. Protesters marched from Boyle Heights to the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal building in downtown L.A. This led to the LAPD declaring the gathering an unlawful assembly. Protesters moved from outside the federal building and walked onto the 101 freeway around 3:30 p.m. local time. Police fired tear gas and other projectiles into the crowd and cleared the area by 5 p.m. Meanwhile, another protest started on Sunday outside Los Angeles City Hall. Protesters outside the city's prison in the Alameda neighborhood of L.A. were arrested, according to the LAPD. "In recent days, many protests across the city have been peaceful and we thank the community for expressing their views and their frustration in a responsible manner," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a Sunday news conference. "However, when peaceful demonstrations devolve into acts of vandalism or violence, especially violence directed at innocent people, law enforcement officers and others, we must respond firmly." McDonnell said that a total of 39 people had been arrested — 29 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. He also said the LAPD was not given advance notice that federal operations would occur in the area. On Sunday, several Waymo driverless vehicles were vandalized and set on fire in downtown Los Angeles. A Waymo spokesperson told USA Today Monday morning that its autonomous vehicles have been removed from the area and the company has temporarily suspended its ride-hailing service "out of an abundance of caution." Bass said Tuesday that "as of now" they have not received any reports of any ICE raids or operations happening in the city. She added that there was going to be an interfaith prayer vigil calling for peace and unity at 6 p.m. local time.
