California Governor Gavin Newsom drew criticism this week after publicly attacking U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for attending the annual Congressional Baseball Game while federal troops continue to respond to the riots in Los Angeles.

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The criticism came as Republican lawmakers dominated their Democratic counterparts in the charity event, winning 13–2 and extending their winning streak to five consecutive years.

Secretary Hegseth attended the game with his family.

His presence at the event, a tradition that draws members of both political parties and their families, drew a sharp rebuke from Newsom, who accused the Defense Department of mishandling military deployment in response to unrest in California.

“Pete sent 4,700 troops here (when they weren’t needed) without adequate fuel, food, water, or a place to sleep,” Newsom wrote in a post on X.

“But don’t worry, he’s at a baseball game.”

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Newsom’s comments came days after President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of over 4,000 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to widespread protests, looting, and attacks on immigration enforcement operations across the city.

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In response to the California governor’s remarks, the Department of Defense posted an image showing the skyline of Los Angeles illuminated by flames during the riots, with a masked rioter waving a Mexican flag. The caption included in the post read, “Weren’t needed.”

The Defense Department has not issued a formal written statement regarding Newsom’s comments, but the photo was widely interpreted as a direct rebuttal to the governor’s claim that the deployment was unnecessary.

The back-and-forth highlighted growing tensions between federal and state leaders as unrest continues in major urban centers over immigration enforcement.

President Trump’s administration has maintained that the troop deployment was necessary to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers amid rising violence, destruction of property, and targeted attacks on law enforcement.

California officials, including Newsom, have repeatedly objected to the presence of federal troops, arguing that the situation is being exacerbated by what they describe as “heavy-handed” federal actions.

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However, White House officials and Department of Defense leadership have emphasized that military support is critical to restoring order and protecting federal personnel and facilities during the riots.

Newsom’s response to the riots has drawn increasing scrutiny from Republicans and law enforcement officials, who argue the state’s sanctuary policies and lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities have contributed to the ongoing chaos.

ICE agents have been the target of violent attacks in Los Angeles and other cities during the protests.

The governor’s criticism of Secretary Hegseth’s baseball game appearance comes at a time when several California neighborhoods remain under curfew, and National Guard forces continue operations in coordination with federal law enforcement.

The image posted by the Department of Defense has since circulated widely online and among conservative lawmakers, symbolizing what critics say is the failure of local and state officials to maintain control of the situation.

As unrest continues in Los Angeles and other urban centers, federal officials have signaled that the deployment of military personnel will remain in place until local authorities are able to ensure stability. No updates have been provided regarding further troop increases or drawdowns at this time.

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