Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly led other Democrat governors in a statement Sunday decrying President Trump’s call-up of California’s National Guard to quell violent protests in Los Angeles, calling his action “an alarming abuse of power.”

“Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous,” the statement reads.

“It’s important we respect the executive authority of our country’s governors to manage their National Guards – and we stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.”

The statement ignores the fact that the Guard was called up to stem violent clashes with federal officials by advocates for illegal immigration – clashes that had federal agents and law enforcement officers physically attacked in riots that only grew over the weekend.

The statement also ignores the fact that governors aren’t infallible.

“When Governor Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to surround Central High School to keep the nine students from entering the school,” notes the Eisenhower Presidential Library, “President Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock to insure the safety of the ‘Little Rock Nine’ and that the rulings of the Supreme Court were upheld.”

Kelly’s action in the Los Angeles riots also would seem to be inconsistent with her biography on the website of the Democrat Governors Association (DGA), which includes, “Gov. Kelly grew up in a military family and learned the importance of service, integrity and accountability at a young age.”

As current chair of the DGA, Kelly might have felt peer pressure to support California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has virulently opposed the call-up.

But there are other indications President Trump may be living in Kelly’s head rent-free. The outgoing message on the Kansas governor’s phone gives callers a number of options to choose, but the first one is:

“For issues regarding the current presidential administration, please press 1.”

The Heartlander sent Kelly’s spokesperson an email asking why the governor joined in the statement, and what her thinking is about what Kansans would want done in the case of violent street clashes in the Sunflower State between federal officials and advocates for illegal immigrants.

Since Kelly is term-limited from running for governor again, the next Democrat candidate may have to answer for her opposition to calling up the Guard during riots, KCMO radio host Pete Mundo opined on X Monday.

“This is a gift for whoever becomes the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Kansas in 2026, Mundo wrote. “The Dem nominee will likely be hand-picked by Governor Kelly. It’s a no-brainer to use this. #ksleg.”

“Laura Kelly leading the DGA, and putting her name on the letter is a huge boost to Kansas Republicans as they try to win back the Governor’s mansion in 2026,” Mundo elaborated in a statement to The Heartlander. “Any candidate worth their salt will use this as an opportunity to knock what is likely to be Laura Kelly’s hand-picked successor on the Democrat side next year.”