Newsom says ‘democracy is under assault’
California governor Gavin Newsom has delivered a blistering address against the Trump administration, warning democracy is “under assault before our eyes”.
Newsom said president Donald Trump was taking a “wrecking ball to our founding fathers’ historic project” .
This is a president who has declared a law on history, culture, science and knowledge itself.
Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there. Trump and his loyalists, they thrive on division because it allows them to take more power and exert even more control.
Newsom warned the situation unfolding in California was just the beginning.
This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes, this moment we have feared has arrived.
Newsom urged the public to become the “antidote” to the fear and division being sowed by the administration.
Key events
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LAPD says ‘mass arrests’ underway in downtown LA
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Texas Governor says national guard will be deployed across the state
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Summary
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Newsom says ‘democracy is under assault’
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Governor Newsom says Trump administration inflamed situation in LA
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LA mayor declares local emergency and issues curfew for downtown
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Images of anti-Ice protesters in New York
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In White House video, Trump rewrites history of 2020 protests with false claim Minnesota governor did not deploy National Guard
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Trump denies that he accused Newsom and Bass of paying protesters, hours after doing so in speech
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Protesters briefly shut down 101 freeway in Los Angeles
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In Newsom v Trump, federal judge declines California’s request for emergency order to limit Marines and National Guard
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In partisan speech at Fort Bragg, Trump invites troops to use his crude nickname for California’s governor
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Trump spreads conspiracy theory that Newsom and Bass ‘paid troublemakers, agitators and insurrectionists’ in LA
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Trump narrates story of US army’s role in war of 1812, leaving out previous claim that ‘airports’ were seized
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Trump repeats baseless conspiracy theory that bricks were staged for protesters in Los Angeles
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Trump claims LA protesters bearing foreign flags as part of a ‘foreign invasion’
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Trump announces more military bases will have names changed back to original names of confederates
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Trump boasts of restoring the name of Fort Bragg to military base
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California asks for emergency order blocking Trump administration from using military to enforce laws in the state
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Local law enforcement agencies ‘saved the day’ not the national guard, LA mayor says
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LA mayor says a curfew is an option being discussed
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Those involved in violence and vandalism will be prosecuted, says LA mayor
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Trump says anyone who protests at Saturday’s military parade ‘will be met with very heavy force’
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Newsom says Trump did not call him after president says they spoke ‘a day ago’
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Kristi Noem attacks Tim Walz’s handling of 2020 protests after police murder of George Floyd
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‘When there’s no danger, they’ll leave,’ says Trump on how long National Guard will remain in California
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Trump on Insurrection Act: ‘If there’s an insurrection I would certainly invoke it’
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Marines arrive in LA area on Trump’s orders after quieter night of protest – NYT
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Trump administration to cut all USAID overseas roles and axe thousands of staff
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Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles to cost an estimated $134 million, Pentagon says
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Hegseth says he anticipates military will remain in LA for 60 days
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Kristi Noem sought military arrests in LA but request was not granted – San Francisco Chronicle
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House speaker says Newsom should be ‘tarred and feathered’ over handling of LA protests
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Hegseth on decision to deploy troops in LA: ‘Ice ought to be able to do its job’
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Hegseth faces grilling on Capitol Hill for first time since Signal scandal and troops sent to LA
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‘The language of authoritarianism’: how Trump and allies cast LA as a lawless city
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Trump again defends decision to ‘send in the troops’
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The day so far
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Trump to address soldiers in North Carolina in visit with Hegseth
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Opinion: Trump is deliberately ratcheting up violence in Los Angeles
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Dozens arrested in California as other US cities protest overnight
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LAPD says marines arrival a ‘significant logistical and operational challenge’ without coordination
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Australian PM: ‘horrific’ to see Australian television reporter shot by rubber bullet in LA
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California governor says marines ‘not political pawns’
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Doechii criticizes Trump’s use of military in California in BET awards speech
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Trump deploys more National Guard troops and marines to LA protests
“Donald Trump was hundreds of miles away from the White House on Tuesday, visiting one the country’s most venerable military bases, Fort Bragg in North Carolina, partly to big-up Saturday’s forthcoming celebration of America’s armed might in Washington – a parade spectacular ostensibly held in honor of the US armed forces’ birthday. But also his own.
With a new setting came the chance for a new theme. Instead the president chose an old one – American carnage.
Read the full compelling political sketch by the Guardian Robert Tait below.
In a post earlier today on his social media platform, Truth Social, president Trump described the tensions in Los Angeles as “Third World Lawlessness”.
Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our Country be destroyed by invasion and Third World lawlessness here at home, like is happening in California. As Commander in Chief, I will not let that happen.”
LAPD says ‘mass arrests’ underway in downtown LA
In a post on X, the LAPD says:
Multiple groups continue to congregate on 1st St between Spring and Alameda. Those groups are being addressed and mass arrests are being initiated. Curfew is in effect.”
Texas Governor says national guard will be deployed across the state
Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has said he will deploy the Texas National Guard to locations across the state to “ensure peace & order,” warning that the national guard will “use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.”
Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest.”
Earlier, a San Antonio police spokesperson said that members of the state’s National Guard were being sent to the city in advance of protests expected this week, but added they had no details about their deployment
Soldiers were “on standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned in case they are needed,” Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said Tuesday evening.
Benjamin Alvarez, a correspondent for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, has been reporting from the Federal Building in downtown LA, the site of continued protests and in an area now under a curfew.
He has documented a large and growing police presence, while other media have reported that arrests of some activists began soon after the curfew came into effect.
He has since posted video of a large number of activists leaving the downtown area with a police helicopter hovering above them.
An LAPD helicopter flies over a group of protesters leaving the Los Angeles downtown area that is currently placed under a curfew. pic.twitter.com/pUDMX8kGoF
— Benjamin Alvarez (@BenjAlvarez1) June 11, 2025
Protests have continued to spread across the US and while many have been peaceful, others have resulted in clashes with law enforcement as officers made arrests and used chemical irritants to disperse crowds, AP reports.
Activists are planning more and even larger demonstrations in the coming days, with a “No Kings” events across the country on Saturday to coincide with Trump’s planned military parade through Washington.
About 150 protesters gathered outside the federal detention center in Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon and marched to Ice headquarters for speeches and then back to the detention center, according to Philadelphia police.
Fifteen people were arrested, one on allegations of aggravated assault on police, and the rest for disorderly conduct, police said. About 20 people remained peacefully gathered outside the detention center as of Tuesday night, police said.
About 200 protesters gathered outside the San Francisco immigration court after activists said several arrests were made there.
About 50 people gathered outside the immigration court in downtown Seattle, chanting with drums and holding up signs that said, “Free Them All; Abolish ICE” and “No to Deportations.” Protesters began putting scooters in front of building entryways before police arrived.
A number of people rallied in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to protest deportations and federal immigration policy. Demonstrators gathered outside two federal buildings that house immigration courts and began marching amid a heavy police presence.
New York City police said multiple people were taken into custody. There were no immediate charges.
In Chicago, a small crowd gathered outside an immigration court in downtown and called for an end to Trump administration immigration sweeps and military presence in California.
The demonstration had grown to at least a thousand protesters by late Tuesday, remaining relatively peaceful with limited engagement between the group and police officers.
A reminder about the scope of the curfew:
The curfew covers a 1 square mile (2.5 square kilometer) section of downtown. The city of Los Angeles itself encompasses roughly 500 square miles (nearly 2,300 square kilometers).
The curfew will run from 8pm on Tuesday until 6 am on Wednesday.
Earlier, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that police had made 197 arrests on Tuesday, including 67 who were taken into custody for unlawfully occupying part of the 101 freeway.
CNN is reporting that arrests are taking place in downtown LA as the Los Angeles police department enforce the curfew.
A CNN reporter Nick Watt said the situation was fairly calm. He estimated between 10 to 20 people had been arrested.
There is some reaction rolling in from the Trump administration to California governor Gavin Newsom’s address.
Deputy assistant to the president and principal deputy communications director Alex Pfeiffer, meanwhile, wrote on X: “Gavin Newsom and his foot soldiers can continue to try to impede ICE. This Administration is not deterred. America’s laws will be enforced. ICE is out in the streets of LA 24/7 arresting criminals.”
Summary
There has been a flurry of activity in the past few hours – here is a wrap up of some key moments:
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a curfew for the city’s downtown area following several days of intense protests against Ice raids that saw clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, widespread vandalism and some looting. The curfew began at 8pm local time on Tuesday and will last until 6am local time on Wednesday. It will apply to a one-square-mile area in downtown.
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California governor Gavin Newsom delivered a searing rebuke of the Trump administration on Tuesday evening, accusing the government of “pulling a military dragnet” across LA and warning democracy is “under assault before our eyes”. The Democratic governor’s remarks come after Trump ordered the deployment of nearly 5,000 troops, including National Guard and Marines, to the nation’s second-largest city.
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Protests against the Trump administration’s newly intensified immigration raids, centred on Los Angeles, spread across the country on Tuesday, with demonstrations in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Omaha and Seattle. Thousands attended a protest against the federal government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) in New York City’s Foley Square.
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A federal district court judge declined California’s request to issue an immediate temporary restraining order that would bar Marines and National Guard troops dispatched to Los Angeles from doing anything other than guarding federal buildings. The judge instead scheduled a hearing for Thursday on the state’s request for a restraining order.
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Trump delivered a deeply partisan, political speech to the avowedly non-partisan US army at Fort Bragg, where he called Los Angeles “a trash heap”, repeated baseless conspiracy theories and announced he was not yet done changing the names of military bases back to honour confederates. Trump said he would “liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again”.
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Trump denied accusing California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, and the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, of paying agitators to turn the protests in the city violent. Video footage from his speech at Fort Bragg just hours earlier, shows him clearly making the accusation.
A curfew for downtown LA has now begun. It is in place until 6am Wednesday local time and applies to a one-square-mile area.
LA mayor Karen Bass earlier warned people who do not live or work in the affected area to stay away or face arrest, should they break the curfew.
National guard troops began protecting immigration agents as they made arrests in Los Angeles on Tuesday – an expansion of their duties that had been limited to protecting federal property, AP reports.
Photos posted by US immigration and customs enforcement (Ice) show national guard troops standing guard around officers as they made arrests.
Ice told AP the troops were providing security at federal facilities and protecting federal officers “who are out on daily enforcement operations.”
The change moves troops closer to engaging in law enforcement actions like deportations as president Donald Trump has promised as part of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
The guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers but any arrests ultimately would be made by law enforcement.
California governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday evening Trump was “pulling a military dragnet” across LA and immigrant families were too afraid to go to work or attend school graduations.
California governor Gavin Newsom has posted a section of his address to X, where he accuses Trump’s administration of pushing “mass deportations” that indiscriminately targets immigrant families “regardless of their roots or risk”.
Donald Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets.
Illegally, and for no reason.
This brazen abuse of power by a sitting President inflamed a combustible situation… pic.twitter.com/Xy8JHMq3cV
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 11, 2025
