US President Donald Trump announced, in the wake of the protests in Los Angeles, that he would ban the wearing of masks during demonstrations across the country.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social page: "Masks will no longer be allowed at protests. What are these people hiding and why?"
A raid by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to search for undocumented immigrants in downtown Los Angeles had previously turned into clashes with protesters. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt announced that 2,000 National Guard troops would be deployed to Los Angeles in response to the protests.
California is traditionally a Democratic stronghold, and Trump has repeatedly criticized the state. Last month, he threatened to cut state funding because of a transgender athlete's participation in competitions. The administration has previously canceled $126.4 million in flood prevention projects and criticized California authorities' actions in combating wildfires.
Last Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened that the state might withhold federal taxes in retaliation for any potential significant cut in federal funding by the Trump administration.
