President Donald Trump pointed to Sen. John Fetterman‘s (D-PA) recent comments denouncing the Los Angeles protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials as a “big mistake” as further evidence that his decision to call in the National Guard was the right move.
“Well, even Sen. Fetterman said very strongly that this is horrible what they’re doing, and that the Democrats are making a big mistake by not talking about it. And I agree with that,” Trump said when the Washington Examiner asked about the legal fallout from the battle between California and the White House.
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Trump’s comments came on Tuesday evening after he addressed soldiers during a military-themed speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. During his remarks, Trump also attacked Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) handling of the Los Angeles protests, continuing their yearslong political feud.
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The state of California sued the Trump White House on Monday. It said the National Guard deployment, which Newsom did not request, violated the 10th Amendment and federal law.
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Newsom’s emergency request to prohibit the use of the Marines and National Guard to quell protests, which have at times been violent. However, the judge also scheduled a hearing for Thursday and gave Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Department of Defense 24 hours to respond to Newsom’s filing.
When asked if he would be successful against Newsom, Trump responded by pointing to Fetterman’s comments.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos,” Fetterman said on X. “My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.”
Trump said the Los Angeles protesters are “now worse than men playing in women’s sports. I think that’s a ridiculous thing.”
“Open borders is what caused it, many of these people, many of them, not all of them, I guess, but many of them came through the Joe Biden, stupid, open borders. Really sad to watch,” Trump continued. “It’s very sad to watch this being our country.”
While in Fort Bragg, Trump said Los Angeles protesters who burn the U.S. flag should be jailed.
“People who burned the American flag should go to jail for one year,” Trump said, as the crowd cheered in approval. “We’ll see if we can get that done. We’ll try and get that done. We’re working with some of your senators. I know Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is very much involved. And I know the two senators from [North Carolina].”
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Trump also clarified an accusation from Newsom that he did not call him on Monday to discuss the protests while speaking with reporters.
“It wasn’t a day ago, a little longer than that,” Trump explained, appearing to reference a previous 16-minute call the two leaders had on Saturday.
“I presented the phone conversation to Fox News. John Roberts and Molly Line at Fox News because they were the ones who said it,” Trump said. “And we actually spent 16-point-something minutes on the phone, and I told him he’s got to get his act together.”
The two men have traded barbs over the protests, with Trump even appearing to support border czar Tom Homan potentially arresting Newsom if he interferes.
“I mean, I’ve always had a good relationship with him. He just doesn’t do a very good job. He should never have been allowed to start,” Trump said about his relationship with Newsom. “And if we didn’t get involved, Los Angeles would be burning down right now, just like the houses burned down.”