The president claimed, without giving evidence, that the protesters were “paid” agitators, that the Los Angeles police asked for the National Guard, and that swaths of the city were under gang control.

The Los Angeles Police Department moved swiftly on Wednesday night to quell disorder stemming from anti-deportation protests, charging crowds on horses and firing “less lethal” munitions to clear protesters.

U.S. President Donald Trump can keep his deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, according to a court ruling, as protests against immigration raids look set to enter their second week in the strongest backlash since his return to power in January.