Former Vice President Kamala Harris launched a scathing attack against President Donald Trump on June 8, 2025, condemning his decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles as part of what she characterized as a calculated campaign to spread fear and division across the nation.
Harris expressed her outrage on social media platform X, describing herself as appalled by the scenes unfolding in the city following Trump’s unprecedented military deployment. The former vice president stated that deploying the National Guard represented a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos, linking it directly to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Southern California and nationwide operations.
The controversy centers on Trump’s weekend decision to sign a memorandum authorizing National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, bypassing Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority and marking the first time since 1965 that a president has activated the force in a state without gubernatorial consent. Trump justified the action by citing a need to address what he described as lawlessness that had been allowed to fester during protests sparked by immigration enforcement operations in the area.
In her social media statement, Harris declared: “This Administration’s actions are not about public safety — they’re about stoking fear.” She characterized the military deployment as part of Trump’s broader agenda to spread panic and division, arguing that the administration’s actions targeted a community demanding dignity and due process.
Former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff reinforced his wife’s position, emphasizing that peaceful protest represents an exercise of democracy rather than a threat. Emhoff stressed that Angelenos maintain the right to make their voices heard, describing standing up for others through peaceful demonstration as a fundamental democratic principle.
Governor Newsom strongly opposed Trump’s military intervention, arguing that the city experienced no problems until the president became involved. In an interview with MSNBC, Newsom characterized Trump’s National Guard deployment as illegal and announced plans to file a lawsuit challenging the president’s authority to bypass state leadership in such matters.
The demonstrations that prompted Trump’s military response emerged following increased immigration enforcement activities in the Los Angeles area. Protesters gathered to voice opposition to what they viewed as heavy-handed federal immigration tactics, creating the conditions that the Trump administration cited as justification for military intervention.
Harris and Emhoff relocated to the Brentwood area of Los Angeles following her defeat to Trump in the 2024 presidential election, giving the former vice president a personal connection to the affected community. As a former California attorney general, Harris maintains deep ties to the state’s legal and political landscape.
Political observers note that Harris appears to be positioning herself for a potential gubernatorial campaign in 2026, as Newsom will be term-limited after serving eight years in office. Sources indicate she expects to announce her decision regarding a gubernatorial bid by the end of summer 2025.
The confrontation represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance efforts. Trump’s willingness to deploy military forces against a governor’s wishes signals a new phase in his administration’s approach to immigration policy and civil unrest management.
Demonstrations were expected to continue on June 9, 2025, despite the National Guard presence, indicating that the underlying tensions driving the protests remain unresolved. The situation has created a complex legal and political standoff involving federal authority, state sovereignty, and constitutional questions about military deployment within American borders.
Harris’ forceful response reflects her broader criticism of Trump’s governance style and immigration policies. Her characterization of the National Guard deployment as cruel and calculated aligns with Democratic arguments that the Trump administration prioritizes political theater over substantive policy solutions to complex immigration challenges facing American communities.
