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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said he is concerned that President Donald Trump will use the unrest in Los Angeles as a "pretext" for "imposing martial law."
Blumenthal is working on legislation to limit presidential powers for troop deployments inside the U.S., an issue he has raised before. He wants to overhaul the Insurrection Act of 1792, seeing it as too broad in scope.
The White House told Newsweek that Blumenthal was wrong to characterize rioting as a free speech issue, and that Trump had acted to protect Americans from the violence.
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Blumenthal Accuses Trump of Silencing Protests
Trump has deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, in defiance of the wishes of state and local leaders, after protests against federal immigration raids descended into riots and looting.
He says California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, have lost control of the situation. But Newsom said state and local authorities could handle any disorder, and said that Trump's troop deployment has fueled more unrest.
"As Trump moves to expand military deployments, possibly using protests in L.A. as a pretext for more broadly silencing free speech or even imposing martial law, I'll be reintroducing reforms to the Insurrection Act that check potential abuse or overreach," Blumenthal posted to X, formerly Twitter, late Monday.
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The senator told Politico separately: "The mainstream of America really believes deeply that our military should be used to defend our national interests and security, not to silence protest at home."
The White House pushed back against Blumenthal's comments.
"Violently attacking federal law enforcement, setting cars on fire, and throwing rocks at police vehicles is not 'free speech' despite what Senator Blumenthal seems to think," Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, told Newsweek in a statement over email.
"President Trump rightfully stepped in to protect Americans from violent rioters supporting illegal aliens when Newsom refused."
Blumenthal had previously talked of overhauling the Insurrection Act in 2024 after Trump said he would consider sending the military into American cities to deal with crime and violence.
"I first introduced Insurrection Act reforms before the election, fearing that future misuse of the military might only inflame conflict & threaten key rights. Now that nightmare seems imminently, fearfully real. Congress must act," Blumenthal posted to X on Monday.
Among the Senate committees to which Blumenthal is a member are the judiciary, homeland security, and armed services.
Any legislation proposed by Blumenthal would have a difficult time getting out of a Republican controlled committee or passing the GOP-controlled upper chamber.
Trump: LA Would Have Burned to the Ground
Trump defended calling in the National Guard against the wishes of Newsom and Bass.
"If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now, much like 25,000 houses burned to the ground in L.A. due to an incompetent Governor and Mayor," Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday morning, referring to the recent wildfires.
Newsom posted to X on Monday: "Have no doubt—Violent criminals who take advantage of Trump's chaos WILL be held accountable. Our number one priority has been and will be keeping LA safe. If you're protesting peacefully. Stay calm. Look out for one another."
He also dared Trump to arrest him after the president said it would be a "great thing."
Updated 6/10/25 at 12:52 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments from the White House.
Updated 6/10/25 at 11:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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