US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed "insurrectionists" for unrest in Los Angeles, after he sent in National Guard troops to quell protests against immigration raids.

"The people that are causing the problems are professional agitators and insurrectionists," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"They're bad people, they should be in jail," he added when asked about the clashes occurring in parts of the second biggest US city.

The Republican, who turns 79 on Saturday, did not give evidence of why the street protesters are insurrectionists.

Trump was returning to the White House after meeting with senior US officials and military officers at his Camp David presidential retreat. Before talking to reporters he greeted workers at the site of a new flagpole he has ordered to be ere

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