Trump Deploys National Guard: The ex-President Donald Trump, who is running again in 2024, has activated the National Guard in Los Angeles after a week of escalating protests that have swept through a number of large U.S. cities. That ruling, which was affirmed this week by a federal appeals court, has prompted a rapid response by those who applaud it as well as those who decry it, creating a tense situation regarding federally decreed power and states’ rights.
Starting as a reaction to a police-involved incident in Atlanta, the protests rapidly spread across the entire country, bringing up the long-existing issues of police brutality, systemic racism, and the excessive use of force in minority communities. Los Angeles was a powder keg; several nights of protests had gone confrontational, with some looting, vandalism, and clashes with police being reported in areas across downtown to South Central.
Federal Decision and Legal Support.
The action by Trump to activate and sustenance of National Guard troops in California was initially opposed by the state authorities, with Governor Gavin Newsom terming it as an act of an “excess of federal authority.” But on Thursday, a federal appeals court said the deployment could proceed, in the interest of national security and to stabilize rising unrest.
The ruling of the court stressed that the Insurrection Act permitted the president, or in this situation, the former president acting as the emergency powers under a temporary delegation, to use military forces within the nation in extraordinary situations. Analysts say that the controversial move has precedent in history.
Mary Alvarez, a constitutional law professor at UCLA, said, “It is not the first time federal troops are being used to restore order.” However, the peculiarity of this moment is the political context and the conflict between state and federal leaders.
Reactions from State and Local Leaders
Governor Newsom criticized the deployment as a political maneuver timed to boost Trump’s image in the election cycle.
“This isn’t about public safety,” Newsom said during a Thursday press briefing. “This is about one man trying to appear as a strongman ahead of November. Californians don’t need military vehicles in their neighborhoods,they need dialogue, justice, and reform.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed the concern, although she acknowledged the city’s need for crowd control after over 150 arrests were made on Wednesday alone. “We are doing everything we can to keep our residents safe, and we are grateful for peaceful protesters who are exercising their rights. But the military presence adds tension, not peace.”
Military Preparedness and Public Response
According to defense officials, approximately 1,200 National Guard troops have been stationed throughout Los Angeles, with backup support from Marine Corps units held on standby at Camp Pendleton. The military presence includes armored vehicles and aerial surveillance over sensitive areas, including government buildings and police precincts.
Public response has been sharply divided. Some residents say the Guard’s arrival has made them feel safer amid the chaos. Others see it as a dangerous militarization of civil spaces.
“This feels like martial law,” said Amira Jones, a protester in downtown LA. “We came out here to demand accountability, and now we’re being watched by drones and soldiers.”
On the other side, business owner Paul Hendricks welcomed the added security. “After my store was broken into Tuesday night, I don’t care who shows up. Someone has to protect us.”
National Impact
The unrest and Trump’s response have become national headlines, prompting politicians across the aisle to weigh in. While some Republican lawmakers have praised Trump’s decisiveness, Democrats in Congress have called for hearings on the legality of the deployment and the broader implications for federalism.
President Biden, speaking from the White House, urged calm and stressed the importance of dialogue over confrontation. “This is a moment to heal, not inflame,” he said.
As Los Angeles braces for another weekend of demonstrations, the city remains on edge. For now, the National Guard will stay,by court order, by executive direction, and amid a growing debate about the future of protest and power in American cities.
