On Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sharply criticized President Trump for deploying thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests over federal immigration raids. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Clinton pointed out that California Governor Gavin Newsom had not requested the military presence, yet Trump went ahead with the deployment.
She highlighted the unusual nature of the move, stating it was the first time in six decades that a president had taken such action without a state’s request. “It’s the first time in 60 years a president has made that choice,” Clinton wrote, signaling the historic break from precedent.
Clinton, who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election and has remained one of his most vocal critics, suggested the decision had less to do with public safety and more to do with political strategy. “Trump’s goal isn’t to keep Californians safe,” she wrote. “His goal is to cause chaos, because chaos is good for Trump.”
Her comments came in response to ongoing demonstrations in California, many of which have remained peaceful, following a wave of ICE raids carried out under Trump’s latest immigration enforcement orders. Newsom has publicly objected to the National Guard deployment, calling it unnecessary and inflammatory.
Clinton has continued to speak out against Trump on a range of issues. Just last month, she criticized him for accepting a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family to serve as Air Force One before being relocated to his future presidential library, calling the move ethically questionable.