Trump’s LA Military Deployment Partially Withdrawn by Pentagon \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Pentagon announced it is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles amid protests against President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The withdrawal follows weeks of tension, legal challenges, and calls from local leaders to send troops home. Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass say the military presence served political, not public safety, purposes.
Quick Looks
- Pentagon ends 2,000-troop deployment, half of force sent to LA
- Full deployment included 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines
- Troops were sent during protests over Trump’s immigration enforcement
- Unclear how long remaining troops will stay in the region
- Newsom cited understaffing for wildfire response due to troop diversion
- MacArthur Park operation drew backlash, lacked transparency
- Protesters clashed with law enforcement using tear gas and rubber bullets
- Mayor Bass: Troops guarded “buildings that didn’t need guarding”
- Trump ordered deployment against Newsom’s legal objections
- Federal court to review legality under Posse Comitatus Act
Deep Look
The Pentagon announced Tuesday that it is withdrawing 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, marking a significant scaling back of the controversial military presence ordered by President Donald Trump in response to widespread protests against his administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown.
The withdrawn troops accounted for nearly half of the 4,000 National Guard soldiers stationed in LA, where they had been joined by 700 U.S. Marines. The deployment began in early June following street protests, freeway blockades, and confrontations with law enforcement — all triggered by the Trump administration’s detention and deportation operations targeting immigrant communities across Southern California.
While the Pentagon did not explain why the 60-day mission was being shortened, speculation swirled about logistical strain, legal challenges, and mounting political pressure. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the deployment, warned in late June that the troop presence had depleted wildfire response capabilities, and urged the return of at least 200 National Guard members to fight fires during the state’s most dangerous season.
Protests, Clashes, and Public Pushback
The military drawdown follows a week of heightened tension in the city, including a high-profile operation at MacArthur Park, where federal agents and National Guard troops arrived on horseback and with heavy weaponry. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to provide a clear explanation for the operation, prompting city officials to accuse the federal government of using military theatrics to intimidate civilians.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell framed the decision to withdraw as a reflection of improved conditions. “Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,” he said in a written statement.
But critics argue the troops’ presence only inflamed tensions. On June 8, thousands of protesters swarmed Los Angeles streets in opposition to the military deployment, blocking major highways and clashing with officers who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades. Several Waymo robotaxis were set ablaze, and chaos spilled into neighborhoods like Little Tokyo, where restaurant staff and bystanders fled police actions.
Mayor Karen Bass quickly imposed a week-long curfew, stating that it helped protect businesses and contain unrest. But in the weeks that followed, protests became more decentralized and smaller in scale, often forming spontaneously around arrests and immigration enforcement actions.
On Tuesday, Bass welcomed the troop withdrawal, saying, “This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court — all of this led to today’s retreat.”
She added that the National Guard had spent much of their time guarding “buildings that frankly didn’t need to be guarded.” In a press conference, she condemned the federal deployment as “an experiment with people’s lives.”
Legal Challenges and Federal Overreach
The deployment was controversial from the start. President Trump ordered it over the objections of Governor Newsom, who sued the federal government in an attempt to block it. Newsom claimed the deployment violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars military personnel from engaging in civilian law enforcement unless explicitly authorized by Congress.
A federal judge initially sided with Newsom, ruling the deployment unlawful and exceeding presidential authority. But the victory was short-lived, as an appeals court quickly reversed the decision, allowing the Trump administration to maintain control of the California National Guard. A final ruling on whether the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act is expected in the coming weeks.
The Trump administration defended the deployment in court filings, claiming it was necessary “to flexibly respond to the evolving situation on the ground.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had discretion to end the deployment early, which he exercised with Tuesday’s withdrawal order.
Newsom: Troops Used as Political Pawns
In a sharply worded statement, Governor Newsom slammed the president’s actions, accusing Trump of using National Guard soldiers as “political pawns.”
“The deployment has pulled troops away from their families and civilian jobs to serve a political narrative,” Newsom said. “They continue without a mission, without direction, and without any hopes of returning to help their communities.”
He demanded that all remaining troops be withdrawn immediately: “We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theater and send everyone home now.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, no visible military presence remained at the federal complex in downtown Los Angeles — once the epicenter of demonstrations — signaling a potential end to one of the most controversial domestic deployments of Trump’s presidency.
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