'They will be hit harder': Trump doubles down on threats to spitting protesters

President Donald Trump doubled down on a new threat to use violent force against protesters in Los Angeles in a post on Truth Social Monday afternoon.

"'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," wrote Trump. "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!" he added.

Trump echoed the same line over the weekend in conversation with reporters, sparking outrage and new fears that the Trump administration is seeking to manufacture more violence in the protests.

The demonstrations, which began in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducting sweeps of workplaces in Los Angeles, led to Trump announcing he would federalize the National Guard to quash unrest.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has said the president is lying about having consulted him on the deployment, and he is acting without the consent of California state officials. Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta are moving ahead with plans to sue over the deployment.