Los Angeles descended into violent unrest after federal agents attempted to carry out immigration enforcement at a federal building in the city. What followed was a shameful lack of response from local officials. LAPD reportedly took two hours to assist the feds under attack. President Trump quickly responded, deploying Marines and thousands of National Guard troops. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli hinted at a probe into nonprofits tied to the mayhem. Once federal boots hit the ground, the riots began to fade.

But instead of thanking those who quelled the violence, California Gov. Gavin Newsom smeared the entire effort as a “sham deployment.”

“This sham deployment of the California National Guard is a massive waste of time and taxpayer money,” Newsom posted, claiming it distracted from “real missions like fire response.”

The Department of Defense didn’t let that go unanswered. From its official account, the DOD fired back: “Governor, thugs took over your streets and were attacking federal agents… You did nothing to stop this madness, so we stepped in… God bless our Marines and Guardsmen.”

Newsom’s criticism not only ignored the failure of local leadership to maintain order, it mocked the very forces who put themselves on the line. Video evidence and firsthand reports show just how dire the situation became. Federal vehicles were pelted with rocks. Officers were overwhelmed. Citizens were in danger. But Newsom’s priority seemed to be political optics—not public safety.

Now, with order largely restored, Trump has begun to withdraw forces. Marines are gone, and 2,000 National Guard members have been sent home. Only a small contingent remains. But Newsom still insists the whole operation was unnecessary.

Even more brazen is Newsom’s attempt to invoke wildfire relief as a better use of resources. This from the same governor who hasn’t accounted for millions raised by the infamous FireAid concert nearly seven months ago. Wildfire victims are still waiting for help—and answers.

While Newsom postures, the facts remain: violence broke out, law enforcement was attacked, and the federal government had to clean up the mess. Californians deserved protection, and Trump delivered. If anything was a sham, it was the governor’s response.

The Department of Defense didn’t mince words because the stakes were too high. Inaction had real consequences, and the federal government wasn’t going to let Los Angeles burn while Newsom fiddled with partisan talking points.

In the end, Americans saw the contrast: one side brought chaos, the other restored order. And the DOD made it perfectly clear which side Newsom was on.