The Trump campaign labeled the Los Angeles protests an “attack on the homeland” to solicit donations, triggering legal action and political fallout.
At a Glance
- Trump’s campaign emailed supporters describing the Los Angeles protests as an “attack on the homeland”
- The protests erupted after ICE raids in South LA led to over 100 arrests and street clashes
- President Trump deployed 4,700 federal troops to Los Angeles under Title 10 without state consent
- The Pentagon projects the 60-day mission will cost $134 million
- Governor Gavin Newsom and the ACLU have filed lawsuits alleging unconstitutional federal overreach
Crisis as Campaign Fuel
On June 8, the Trump campaign sent supporters a fundraising email bearing the subject line “Looking really bad in LA!” with a banner reading “ATTACK ON THE HOMELAND.” The message featured graphic photos from protests in downtown Los Angeles and Compton, which erupted after ICE operations in South LA. Over 100 arrests, vandalized property, and torched vehicles followed, prompting a swift federal response.
The email aligned with Trump’s broader campaign themes of law and order, touting immigration crackdowns and national security. Critics accused the campaign of exploiting urban unrest for political gain, while Republican strategists praised the messaging as a call to defend American sovereignty.
Watch a report: Trump defends troop deployment amid LA protest chaos
Legal and Political Crossfire
The president invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines—without Governor Gavin Newsom’s consent. The Pentagon emphasized that troops were only authorized to secure federal property and ICE facilities, not to engage with protesters directly.
However, Newsom called the deployment “a violation of California’s sovereignty” and filed a lawsuit arguing that the move breached the Tenth Amendment and Posse Comitatus Act. The ACLU filed a parallel suit citing threats to civil liberties and freedom of assembly.
Campaign Stakes and Constitutional Risks
The Pentagon estimates the mission will cost taxpayers $134 million over 60 days. Legal scholars warn that deploying military forces domestically without invoking the Insurrection Act is constitutionally fraught, especially when the National Guard is federalized without state approval.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s campaign has reportedly seen a surge in donations following the email. The move reflects a strategy reminiscent of his 2020 reelection bid, leveraging law-and-order rhetoric and visual chaos to rally support. But with lawsuits mounting and protests spreading to cities like San Francisco and Oakland, the political cost could rival the financial one.
As the legal battle unfolds, the episode is shaping up as a flashpoint in the 2025 campaign—testing the limits of presidential authority, the role of the military in civil unrest, and the ethics of turning domestic crisis into political capital.
