In a surprising turn of events, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has come out swinging against the sudden appearance of federal agents and National Guard troops at a city park on Monday, July 7. Armored vehicles, mounted officers, and armed troops created a temporary frenzy at MacArthur Park on Monday morning before making a swift exit. Bass revealed that a group of 20 children were innocently playing in the park when the troops unexpectedly swarmed through, causing chaos.
In a fiery speech at a press conference, Bass expressed her dismay, stating, “It’s simply unbelievable and goes against everything we stand for as Americans to witness federal armed vehicles roaming our parks when there isn’t a single thing amiss in our peaceful parks.” The mayor continued to denounce the federal government’s action of commandeering the state’s National Guard, emphasizing the absurdity of having U.S. Marines, who are trained to eliminate foreign enemies abroad, stationed in an American city.
During an interview on X, Bass disclosed that she wasted no time in rushing to the park as soon as she got wind of the situation, promptly ordering the officer in charge to vacate the premises. Describing the incident as a “military-style maneuver aimed at instilling fear in our community,” she further asserted, “We shall not cower in fear nor allow ourselves to be torn apart. Together, we shall stand.”
A Department of Defense post suggested that the troops were deployed at the park to “guarantee the well-being of federal agents.” However, Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose jurisdiction covers MacArthur Park, expressed on X that the armed troops were “intimidating street vendors, seniors, and even youngsters attending summer camp.”
When approached for a statement, the National Guard remains silent. Pentagon’s expenditure of $134 million on the National Guard deployment has raised eyebrows, with Bass questioning the necessity of their deployment without the governor’s consent. President Donald Trump’s decision to dispatch 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid protests against federal immigration enforcement has only added fuel to the fire.
President Trump defended his actions on Truth Social, asserting that without the National Guard intervention, Los Angeles would have turned into a blazing inferno. The Defense Department disclosed that the hefty cost of the 60-day deployment covered expenses such as travel, accommodation, and meals, drawing from operational and maintenance budgets.
Governor Gavin Newsom endeavored to thwart the federal intrusion in California and subsequently took legal action against Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accusing them of attempting to aid ICE in conducting raids. This escalating saga has led to a clash of powers and ideologies, with no clear resolution in sight.
Contributors: James Powel and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY
This narrative was originally featured on USA TODAY: LA mayor deems federal agent presence ‘outrageous’ at MacArthur Park
