The Trump administration has authorized the deployment of approximately 500 U.S. Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, to bolster federal presence amid ongoing protests in downtown Los Angeles, according to multiple sources familiar with the operation.
The Marines will join over 2,000 California National Guard troops already activated by President Donald Trump—a move made without the approval of California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, intensifying the standoff between state and federal leadership.
The full Marine battalion marks the largest active-duty military mobilization to a domestic protest under Trump’s presidency. While their precise mission remains unclear, sources say they will augment the National Guard’s presence on the ground and help maintain order around critical infrastructure.
Under U.S. law, the Marines are prohibited from performing direct law enforcement functions, including arrests, unless President Trump formally invokes the Insurrection Act—a legal step he has so far stopped short of taking.
“They’re here as a show of strength and backup,” said a federal official who requested anonymity. “If the violence escalates, they’ll be ready.”
One source noted that the Marines are expected to relieve National Guard personnel who have been patrolling LA’s streets since the weekend.
Only about 300 of the activated 2,000 Guard members have been deployed so far, focusing on protecting federal buildings and supporting police operations downtown.
The presence of the Marines, who are trained for combat rather than civil unrest, has sparked alarm among civil rights advocates and local officials.
Political Fallout Intensifies
Governor Newsom has already announced plans to sue the Trump administration, calling the federal deployment unconstitutional. “This is not how we protect democracy. This is intimidation,” Newsom said.
Mayor Bass echoed the sentiment, accusing the administration of fueling tension and undermining local authority. “Sending in the military is not the answer. We need de-escalation, not a war posture,” she said.
Meanwhile, President Trump has continued to push a hardline stance, calling the protesters “insurrectionist mobs” and demanding more aggressive enforcement. In a post on X, he insisted, “Don’t let these thugs get away with this. Deploy the force. Make America great again!!!”
