Key events
One person was arrested overnight in connection with the protest in Paramount, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
The New York Times reported two officers had been treated in hospital for injuries and discharged.
It added that one car had been burned and a fire at a local strip mall had been extinguished.
President Trump appears to have used federal law to order the national guard to go to Los Angeles, rather than the 18th century Insurrection Act.
The national guard is a hybrid entity that serves both state and federal interests. Often, it operates under state command and control, using state funding. Sometimes national guard troops will be assigned by their state to serve federal missions, remaining under state command but using federal funding.
The law cited by Trump’s proclamation places national guard troops under federal command.
The law says this can be done under three circumstances: when the US is invaded or in danger of invasion; when there is a rebellion or danger of rebellion against the authority of the US government; or when the president is unable to “execute the laws of the United States”, with regular forces.
But the law also says that orders for those purposes “shall be issued through the governors of the States”. It’s not immediately clear whether the president can activate national guard troops without the order of that state’s governor – especially pertinent given the order has been made despite the objections of California governor Gavin Newsom.
We have a broader explainer available here:
Trump praises national guard, though troops have not arrived
President Trump has praised the efforts of the national guard in calming the protests in Los Angeles, despite the city’s mayor saying troops have yet to arrive.
In a post on his social media platform TruthSocial, Trump said:
Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles after two days of violence, clashes and unrest. We have an incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) who were, as usual (just look at how they handled the fires, and now their VERY SLOW PERMITTING disaster. Federal permitting is complete!), unable to to handle the task.
These Radical Left protests, by instigators and often paid troublemakers, will NOT BE TOLERATED. Also, from now on, MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests. What do these people have to hide, and why??? Again, thank you to the National Guard for a job well done!”
However just an hour after Trump’s post, Bass tweeted: “I want to thank LAPD and local law enforcement for their work tonight. I also want to thank Gavin Newsom for his support.
“Just to be clear, the National Guard has not been deployed in the City of Los Angeles.”
About 2,000 troops could be deployed to the city in California, after an immigration crackdown led to protests that have run into two days.
The time in LA is approaching 5am, and it is still yet to be seen whether the unrest will run into a third day.
We’ll be bringing you the latest, including the political reaction to the protests and Trump’s decision.
