On Monday, President Donald Trump addressed the escalating unrest in Los Angeles via a post on Truth Social, delivering a stern warning to anti-ICE demonstrators regarding their aggressive and disrespectful actions toward law enforcement and military personnel.
“’If they spit, we will hit.’ This is a statement from the President of the United States concerning the catastrophic Gavin Newscum inspired Riots going on in Los Angeles. The Insurrectionists have a tendency to spit in the face of the National Guardsmen/women, and others. These Patriots are told to accept this, it’s just the way life runs. But not in the Trump Administration. IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT, and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before. Such disrespect will not be tolerated!” The president’s statement read.
The origin of the phrase “if they spit, we hit” can be traced back to Sunday, during a press interaction in which the president commented on the ongoing violence in Los Angeles.
While preparing to board Air Force One en route to Camp David, Trump accused demonstrators of engaging in deliberate provocation against federal agents, insisting that such behavior justified a forceful response from federal authorities.
“They spit and worse, you know, what they throw at them, right? And when that happens, I have a little statement. They spit, we hit. And I told them, nobody’s going to spit on our police officers, nobody’s going to spit on our military. Which they do, it’s a common thing,” President Trump told reporters. “They get up to them this far away and they start spitting in their face. That happens. They get hit very hard.”
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The president added, “I mean, if we see danger to our country and to our citizens, it will be very, very strong in terms of law and order. It’s about law and order. We’re going to be watching it very closely.”
Shortly after speaking with the press, Trump reiterated his message on Truth Social, where he laid out additional steps to combat the ongoing turmoil, labeling the crisis an “invasion” multiple times.
“A once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations — But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve,” he explained in his post.
Trump then revealed his next steps, adding, “I am directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with all other relevant Departments and Agencies, to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots. Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Governor Gavin Newsom issued a harsh rebuke of the president’s decision to deploy National Guard troops, accusing him of attempting to “manufacture a crisis.” In response, the White House defended the legality of the action, citing Title 10 authority.
Title 10, which is infrequently invoked, provides the president the power to federalize National Guard forces in the face of rebellion or significant threats to federal authority. As of now, Trump has not utilized the Insurrection Act.
Should the president choose to enact the Insurrection Act, it would grant him expanded powers to send active-duty military forces into U.S. cities for domestic law enforcement operations.
