President Donald Trump ordered another 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, bringing the total number of deployed military forces to about 4,700 after 700 Marines were deployed earlier Monday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was the first to announce the new deployment, critiquing it in the process. It was confirmed by Sean Parnell, the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs.
“At the order of the President, the Department of Defense is mobilizing an additional 2,000 California National Guard to be called into federal service to support ICE & to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties,” he said in a post on X.
Newsom has tried several attack angles against Trump’s deployment of the National Guard but leaned into logistical criticisms in his announcement, claiming they weren’t being supported by the administration.
“I was just informed Trump is deploying another 2,000 Guard troops to L.A. The first 2,000? Given no food or water. Only approx. 300 are deployed — the rest are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders. This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego. This is Reckless. Pointless. And Disrespectful to our troops,” he said in a post on X.
Parnell hit back at the accusation.
“What’s reckless & pointless & disrespectful to our troops is allowing your city to burn because you share the same ideology as the rioters. Our troops have orders. They’re well trained. They’re professionals. They’re stepping up to defend our federal officers because you will not,” he said.
Newsom had posted photos earlier of National Guard members in makeshift quarters, claiming that Trump “sent your troops here without fuel, food, water or a place to sleep. Here they are — being forced to sleep on the floor, piled on top of one another. If anyone is treating our troops disrespectfully, it is you @realDonaldTrump.”
The California governor, known during the first Trump administration for having a warmer-than-expected relationship with the president, accused him of manufacturing a crisis and trying to take dictatorial power.
“This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution. The illegal order he signed could allow him to send the military into ANY STATE HE WISHES,” he said in a post on X announcing a lawsuit against Trump.
Earlier on Monday, U.S. Northern Command said approximately 700 Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division would deploy to Los Angeles to “seamlessly integrate” with the National Guard members already stationed in the city who are protecting federal property and personnel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Marines were being deployed “due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings,” adding, “We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers — even if Gavin Newsom will not.”
“Serious countries do not allow violent mobs to threaten federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings. Civil societies are ordered societies. And order WILL BE RESTORED,” Defense Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, rebuked Trump for his decision to send in the Marines.
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“The ongoing violence in Los Angeles is unacceptable,” he said in a Monday statement. “But the president is forcibly overriding the authority of the governor and mayor and using the military as a political weapon. This unprecedented move threatens to turn a tense situation into a national crisis.”
Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members to the city a day earlier after widespread violence and clashes with police.