TRANSCRIPT
United States President Donald Trump has vowed to liberate Los Angeles after sending 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines into the city to quell anti-immigration enforcement riots.
Speaking from Fort Bragg, Mr Trump claimed foreign-backed agitators are fuelling unrest and pledged to restore order, by force if necessary.
“Within the span of a few decades, Los Angeles has gone from being one of the cleanest, safest and most beautiful cities on Earth to being a trash heap with entire neighbourhoods under the control of transnational gangs and criminal networks. It's horrible what's happened so quickly. … I'll say it loudly and clearly. They better do something before it's too late. Very simply, we will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe. Again. It's happening very quickly.”
The President says without military intervention, the city would have been reduced to ashes.
“There wouldn't be a Los Angeles, it'd be burning today, just like the houses were burning a number of months ago, 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. It's never going to happen... What you're witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and a national sovereignty carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags with the aim of continuing a foreign invasion of our country. We're not going to let that happen… This anarchy will not stand.”
Governor Newsom says the deployed National Guard have been taken away from other critical assignments in the state.
"We are now taking many of them off assignments on forest management, protecting communities, vulnerable communities, against summer and wildfire season. We're removing them from task forces that we've created to deal with fentanyl interdiction. I have 394, National Guard men and women down at the border. I imagine they may even be pulled for this theatrical display of toughness by the President of United States, who's unhinged, it has now crossed a red line in this country."
Violent protests erupted in Los Angeles after aggressive federal immigration raids and detentions by customs and immigration (ICE) officers, particularly targeting Latino and immigrant communities.
Outrage grew when people were seized during routine appointments, triggering riots marked by looting and arson.
Police have been using rubber bullets and teargas to control the crowds.
Many residents say the military presence feels like martial law.
Los Angeles local Danielle Kahl says the President’s response is disproportionate and disconnected.
"I'm not OK with this. I'm not OK with people getting taken from their jobs and being taken from when they're going into the federal building for their appointments to do this the right way. And Trump doesn't seem to care. And it's not right. I'm not even a Democrat or a Republican. I identify myself as an Independent. But I can't see how this is right."
She says she’s never seen anything like this in her lifetime.
"I don't like this. I've never seen this in my whole life of growing up here, a majority of my life. I have never seen anything like this and I'm not cool with it. I'm raising my son to believe that people have rights. You don't just do this and this is a waste of taxpayer dollars."
Ryan Glover, another local, sees the move as fuelled by anti-immigrant hostility.
"I really believe that it just seems overblown. I feel like it's indicative of the irresponsibility of the current administration and the hatred and the xenophobia that they have for immigrants."
Meanwhile, legal experts and officials are questioning whether the President had the authority to act without state consent.
Tara Copp, Pentagon correspondent for the Associated Press, says Mr Trump activated the National Guard under Title Ten federal orders, but without the necessary orders from the California Governor.
Ms Copp says the military is limited in what in can actually do.
“Just like the National Guard, those Marines cannot detain people. They are there to protect buildings. They can protect personnel. The Pentagon yesterday was just scrambling to be able to provide these Marines with guidance on what they can and cannot do and what they should and should not do, because this is an extremely rare situation. You do not typically deploy active duty soldiers, marines, sailors, et cetera, on US soil to conduct any sort of law enforcement activity.”
LA Mayor Karen Bass says the military presence has spread fear, not safety, and that the city's immigrant population is bearing the brunt.
"With ICE raids of course, we never know when, we never know how long. But that very notion creates such a terrible sense of fear in our city. And it's just not right to do that to a population who's trying to survive. We are a city of immigrants."
She also criticised the federal government for spending over US$100 million on the deployment rather than supporting the city’s preparations for next year’s World Cup.
"I want to tell him that if you want to devastate the economy of the city of Los Angeles, then attack the immigrant population. I want to tell him don't you want the World Cup to be a success, a success for you? Well, if that's what you want, give us help. Give us the $130 million that are being used for no reason, wasting taxpayer's money. Give us that money so that we can get prepared for the World Cup next year."
State Governor Gavin Newsom says he has filed an emergency motion in court to immediately block what he calls the ongoing and unnecessary militarisation of Los Angeles.
But Mr Trump is resolute.
He says the troops will remain as long as necessary - specifically, until there is no danger.
