White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt fired back at Nancy Pelosi after the former speaker criticized President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles.
Pelosi commented on the president’s decision to deploy the National Guard to protect law enforcement from anti-ICE rioters who have targeted officers. Pelosi drew comparisons to January 6, 2021, claiming that congressional leaders "begged" Trump to send in the National Guard, but he "would not do it." She contrasted that with the current situation in Los Angeles, where Trump authorized the deployment of troops despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s disapproval.
"On January 6th...we begged the president of the United States to send in the National Guard. He would not do it...And yet, in a contra-constitutional way, he has sent the National Guard into California. Something is very wrong with this picture,” Pelosi said, also claiming that the president must receive the consent of a state’s governor before deploying the National Guard.
Press Secretary Leavitt responded on X by posting a video clip of Pelosi on January 6 in which she appeared to take personal responsibility for the absence of National Guard troops that day.
“Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?” Pelosi said in the clip. “They clearly didn’t know and I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more.”
The footage directly contradicts Pelosi’s recent narrative and adds fuel to the ongoing political clash over federal authority amid civil unrest in Los Angeles.
President Trump has authorized the deployment of a total of 4,000 National Guard troops and activated an additional 700 Marines to respond to the riots in Los Angeles, which erupted in protest of federal immigration enforcement actions. Newsom has condemned the deployment and has taken legal action against the Trump White House over the move.
