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California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the federal government has deployed additional National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against ICE enforcement actions.
Getting into it: California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the federal government has deployed an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, bringing the total number of federally ordered troops in the city to 4,000. Newsom wrote, “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.”
The additional deployment of troops joins an already complex and controversial security presence, which now also includes 700 active-duty Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, deployed to protect federal buildings and personnel amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
In response to what he describes as a federal overreach and mishandled escalation, Newsom also announced that California is “working with local partners to surge over 800 additional state and local law enforcement officers to ensure the safety of our LA communities.” According to a press release from his office, this includes more than 640 California Highway Patrol officers and over 240 officers from neighboring jurisdictions. Newsom framed the move as an effort to restore control to local agencies and reduce reliance on federal forces.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell voiced concerns about the influx of federal personnel, saying, “The arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles — absent clear coordination — presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.” He argued the department’s experience in managing demonstrations and urged for “open and continuous lines of communication between all agencies to prevent confusion, avoid escalation, and ensure a coordinated, lawful, and orderly response.”
This all comes as Governor Newsom and Vice President J.D. Vance have clashed publicly over the federal deployment in Los Angeles. The tension escalated after President Trump said he would support the arrest of Governor Newsom—a statement Newsom called an alarming breach of democratic norms. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,” Newsom posted on X. Vice President Vance responded two hours later, writing, “Do your job. That’s all we’re asking.” Newsom fired back, “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
