Trump threatens US with rarely used 1807 law

Los Angeles is erupting in crisis — both in flames and fury. What began as peaceful demonstrations in predominantly Latino neighborhoods has devolved into violent riots, widespread looting, and direct confrontations with law enforcement. In response, former President Donald Trump is now threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, a rarely used but sweeping measure that could bring active-duty military into American streets.

Tensions escalated after intensified ICE raids swept through LA, sparking outrage and a surge of residents demanding accountability. Rather than dialogue, they were met with military boots on the ground. Over the weekend, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. When that failed to ease the chaos, he sent an additional 2,000 troops, followed by 700 U.S. Marines.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Trump made his intentions clear: “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see.” He was referring to the Insurrection Act — a law last used in Los Angeles during the 1992 Rodney King riots, and previously invoked during the Civil Rights Movement and Reconstruction Era to combat domestic threats to order.

Trump painted the unrest in stark terms: “What you’re witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order, and on national sovereignty. This anarchy will not stand. We won’t let federal agents be attacked, and we won’t let any American city be overtaken by foreign-backed rioters.”

Historically, deploying the military domestically is seen as a drastic and controversial move. The legal implications of Trump invoking the Insurrection Act remain uncertain, especially as opposition mounts.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has strongly condemned the federal intervention, calling it unlawful and politically motivated. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom said in a televised address. “This is a blatant violation of state sovereignty — pouring gasoline on a fire instead of offering real help.”

Newsom warned that California is just the beginning. “Democracy itself is under attack,” he declared. “This is the moment we’ve long feared.”

Trump responded on Truth Social with characteristic bluntness: “If Governor Gavin Newscum and Mayor Karen Bass can’t do their jobs — which they clearly can’t — then the federal government will step in and fix the problem. RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be done!!!”

As National Guard troops are now assigned not only to protect public buildings but also to accompany ICE agents on raids, protests have begun to spread. Major cities including New York, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Atlanta, and Austin are all experiencing unrest, with growing concerns that the crisis could escalate nationwide.

The U.S. now stands at a pivotal crossroads, as the line between civil order and constitutional overreach grows increasingly blurred.