While California burns, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth decides a baseball game is more important than ensuring troops have food and water—exposing the alarming disconnect within Trump’s administration during one of the state’s most volatile crises.
At a Glance
- Governor Newsom blasted Hegseth for attending a Congressional baseball game while 4,700 troops in California allegedly lacked basic necessities
- The Department of Defense countered by posting images of LA riots, suggesting the military presence was necessary despite Newsom’s objections
- Hegseth refused to confirm whether he would respect court rulings limiting military deployments, stating “local judges shouldn’t make foreign policy”
- Nationwide protests against immigration raids have escalated into violence, prompting Trump’s controversial military intervention
- California has filed for a temporary restraining order to limit military activities to protecting federal buildings
Newsom and Hegseth’s War of Words Exposes Deep Political Divide
In what might be the most tone-deaf display of priorities we’ve seen from this administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth apparently thought attending a Congressional baseball game was more important than ensuring our troops had basic necessities during civil unrest in California. Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t mince words when he called out Hegseth’s absence while thousands of National Guard troops and Marines were allegedly deployed without adequate supplies or shelter. This is what happens when political theater takes precedence over actual leadership during a crisis.
Newsom’s scathing criticism was direct and pointed: “Pete sent 4,700 troops here (when they weren’t needed) without adequate fuel, food, water or a place to sleep. But don’t worry, he’s at a baseball game.” The Department of Defense wasn’t having it, though. Their rapid response team fired back with photos showing burning buildings and widespread destruction in Los Angeles—a not-so-subtle suggestion that perhaps those troops were indeed necessary, regardless of what the Governor claimed.
Constitutional Crisis Brewing as Hegseth Dismisses Judicial Authority
If Hegseth’s apparent dereliction of duty wasn’t concerning enough, his cavalier attitude toward the judicial branch should set off alarm bells for anyone who still believes in the Constitution. When pressed by Rep. Ro Khanna about whether he would respect court rulings limiting military deployments in Los Angeles, Hegseth essentially shrugged off the entire concept of judicial review. This isn’t just administrative arrogance—it’s a fundamental threat to our system of checks and balances.
“We should not have local judges determining foreign policy or national security policy for the country,” Hegseth declared during congressional questioning, apparently forgetting that immigration enforcement on American soil isn’t “foreign policy” and that courts have constitutional authority to check executive power. When directly asked if he would respect judicial decisions, Hegseth doubled down: “What I’m saying is local district judges shouldn’t make foreign policy for the United States.”
California Fights Back Against Federal Overreach
While the administration characterizes this as necessary intervention to restore order, California officials see it as an unconstitutional overreach of federal power. The state has filed for a temporary restraining order to limit military activities to protecting federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles—a clear signal that Newsom isn’t backing down. Meanwhile, former military leaders have filed amicus briefs warning about the dangers of politicizing the military and the potential national security risks of this deployment.
The riots themselves began after attempts to disrupt ICE operations led to property destruction, looting, and attacks on law enforcement. President Trump blamed Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for inadequate protection of citizens and property, using their perceived failure as justification for deploying federal forces. It’s a classic example of federal overreach masquerading as necessary intervention—and exactly the kind of power grab the Founders warned us about.
Nationwide Resistance Building Against Immigration Crackdown
The situation in California is just the tip of the iceberg. Nationwide protests against immigration enforcement have erupted across the country, with some Democratic governors openly limiting cooperation with ICE. They claim they’ll focus only on deporting convicted criminals while refusing to enforce civil immigration violations—essentially picking and choosing which federal laws they’ll respect. Meanwhile, anti-Trump activists are planning “No Kings Day” protests on June 14, coinciding with a military parade in Washington, D.C.
Perhaps most telling is the treatment of Senator Alex Padilla, who was forcibly removed from a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, sparking outrage among Democrats. The irony is palpable—the same politicians who cheered the silencing of conservative voices now suddenly care about free speech when it’s their turn to be silenced. This is the double standard we’ve come to expect from the left, and it’s exactly why the American people are so divided on this issue.
