Why Trump’s Use of Military in US Is So Controversial: QuickTake

June 10, 2025, 3:14 PM UTC

President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of California National Guard troops and hundreds of active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid protests against immigration raids marks a sharp departure from the usual federal response to domestic unrest.

The president’s move to stop what he called “migrant riots” has been condemned as inflammatory and unnecessary by local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who would normally be the ones to request such a mobilization.

The last time a president activated a state’s National Guard without a request from the governor was in ...

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