Several US media outlets reported Monday that hundreds of Marine Corps troops have been sent to Los Angeles to assist local law enforcement in maintaining order.
President Trump responded to the deployment of Marine Corps troops to Los Angeles, saying he is open to the idea. “We will see,” he said. “What I mean is, we have the situation very well under control – I think it was going to be very bad; it’s heading in the right direction.”
“We hope to have the support of Governor Gavin Newsom because he’s the biggest beneficiary as we solve the problem,” Trump added.
Earlier today, CNN reported that around 500 Marine Corps troops stationed at the California Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center have been mobilized to respond to protests in Los Angeles. These troops will join the one thousand National Guard troops ordered to be deployed by Trump over the weekend.
However, this deployment was made without the consent of Governor Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
California has filed a lawsuit over the deployment of the National Guard troops.
Other media sources have also reported on the deployment of Marine Corps troops, but the number of troops mentioned varies. According to Reuters, the Pentagon is expected to temporarily deploy 700 Marine Corps troops to Los Angeles to assist in dealing with protests sparked by federal immigration enforcement actions.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the Marine Corps troops will continue to be deployed until more National Guard units arrive and will provide support. It is anticipated that the federal government will not invoke the Insurrection Act.
President Trump has announced the mobilization of the National Guard to protect federal property in Los Angeles. It is currently unclear when the additional National Guard troops will arrive.
ABC reported that US officials confirmed that 700 California Marine Corps troops have been ordered to head to Los Angeles to provide law enforcement assistance, with an expected arrival within the next 24 hours.
These Marine Corps troops are from the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment in Twentynine Palms, California. The US Northern Command stated on Sunday that they are in a state of readiness if the Defense Department requires it.
Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon is mobilizing 500 active-duty Marine Corps troops to reinforce the National Guard in response to protests in Los Angeles.
A Defense Department official stated that Marine Corps troops stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twenty-Nine Palms, California, are currently being mobilized. It is yet unclear when they will actually be deployed to Los Angeles.
The deployment of Marine Corps troops marks an escalation in force deployment by the President to address the protests. Governor Newsom had previously criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks about possibly deploying Marine Corps troops as “insane behavior.”
US law generally prohibits the use of active-duty US military – Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps – for domestic law enforcement missions. This law does not apply to the National Guard controlled by state governments.