President Donald J. Trump took to Truth Social this morning with a strong message about the well organised violence in Los Angeles—and a direct rebuke of California’s leadership. In a no-holds-barred post, Trump praised the National Guard and U.S. Marines for stabilizing the city after two nights of chaos and accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of total incompetence.
“Los Angeles was safe and sound for the last two nights,” Trump wrote. “Our great National Guard, with a little help from the Marines, put the L.A. Police in a position to effectively do their job. They all worked well together, but without the Military, Los Angeles would be a crime scene like we haven’t seen in years.”
While Trump emphasized the coordination between federal forces and local law enforcement, he reserved harsh words for Newsom, calling him out for losing control of the situation.
“Governor Gaven NewScum had totally lost control of the situation,” Trump said. “He should be saying THANK YOU for saving his ass, instead of trying to justify his mistakes and incompetence!!!”
Rather than acknowledge the federal assistance, both Newsom and Bass went on the offensive—blaming the Trump administration for the unrest. Newsom accused Trump of deploying a “military dragnet” through the streets of Los Angeles and called the move an unconstitutional overreach. His office has since filed emergency motions in court to block further federal involvement. Mayor Bass echoed those attacks, claiming the White House had “provoked the protests and riots” and described the federal response as “a chaotic escalation.”
California in Decline Under Newsom
Under Newsom’s leadership, California has seen a steady decline in public safety, economic health, and quality of life. Violent crime remains above the national average, with aggravated assaults rising year over year. In cities like Vallejo and Oakland, law enforcement struggles to keep pace with gang activity, drug trafficking, and theft—while state leadership pursues soft-on-crime policies that have demoralized police and emboldened criminals.
At the same time, the state’s economy continues to lag. More than 114,000 residents left California last year alone, part of a broader trend of businesses and families relocating to states with lower taxes, fewer regulations, and stronger leadership. Since 2019, more than 200 major companies—including Tesla, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Chevron—have moved their headquarters out of state.
Meanwhile, California’s housing crisis continues to spiral. Despite record state spending, homelessness has exploded across major cities. Tent encampments sprawl across sidewalks in Los Angeles and San Francisco, while middle-class families are priced out of homeownership. The state now has the highest poverty rate in the nation when adjusted for cost of living.
Compounding these problems, Newsom’s administration has faced numerous scandals and blunders. The state lost over $11 billion to pandemic-era unemployment fraud, and what was once hailed as a $97.5 billion budget surplus in 2022 has disintegrated into a projected deficit of up to $73 billion, threatening public safety funding and basic services.
Mayor Bass: Turned Los Angeles into Los Infernos
Mayor Bass has fared no better. Since taking office, Los Angeles has struggled with rising property crimes, out-of-control homelessness, and a growing sense among residents that city leadership is more interested in ideology than solutions. Her dismissal of federal aid during the recent riots has only added to criticisms that she’s out of touch with the reality on the ground.
Bass claimed that LAPD had the unrest under control, and accused the Trump administration of exacerbating tensions. But images from the streets—businesses looted, officers overwhelmed, and fires burning—told a different story. For many Angelenos, it was the arrival of National Guard troops and federal coordination that finally brought calm.
In contrast, Trump’s supporters say his quick action and strong leadership brought order where California’s own leaders failed. By deploying the National Guard and coordinating with local law enforcement, the Trump team restored peace and empowered police to regain control of the streets.
One thing is clear: the debate over leadership in California isn’t just about politics—it’s about safety, stability, and the direction of the state itself.
