President Donald Trump has deployed 700 Marines to Los Angeles following violent protests over his administration’s mass deportation policies.
Official US Northern Command statement on US Marines deployed to Los Angeles: “Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate” with forces “who are protecting federal personnel and federal property”https://t.co/mURD3luIt6 pic.twitter.com/8lHkfl959g
— Patrick deHahn (@patrickdehahn) June 9, 2025
Two defense officials said the Marines won’t engage in law enforcement unless Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.
Currently, only 300 of 2,000 National Guard troops ordered to L.A. have arrived. “It would have been a very bad situation. It was heading in the wrong direction. It’s now heading in the right direction,” Trump said Monday.
🚨#BREAKING: President Donald Trump and The U.S. military is now preparing to deploy nearly 700 Marines a full battalion to Los Angeles, California, as additional National Guard troops will arrive to help contain the escalating out of control riots pic.twitter.com/PqfcBCJIPY
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) June 9, 2025
Trump used a statute to federalize the Guard, a move last used by Nixon in 1970. He may deploy more troops if unrest spreads to cities like New York. Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the federalization, but Trump stated Newsom “should only be happy I sent in the military.”
The Posse Comitatus Act generally bans military involvement in domestic policing.