Federal Intervention in Los Angeles Sparks Debate
In an unprecedented move, President Trump has invoked a seldom-used law to deploy 2,000 national guard troops to Los Angeles, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom. This decision marks the first instance in six decades where a U.S. president has exercised federal authority to station national guard units without a state’s consent.
NPR correspondent Scott Detrow interviewed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to capture the city’s response to this federal intervention. The deployment has stirred significant reactions among residents and officials alike, highlighting the tension between federal mandates and state sovereignty.
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National Guard soldiers and US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Police officers clash with demonstrators outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, MDC, in downtown Los Angeles, California on June 8, 2025. Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images
Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images
