Power Grab/Fire anyone who can stop him
Trump says he would “certainly” invoke the Insurrection Act if there is an insurrection, as 4,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines head to Los Angeles
Trump had already federalized the California National Guard over Governor Newsom’s objection. The Act, which would let troops perform law enforcement, was not invoked.
What happened
Protests against immigration raids began in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025. On June 7, Trump placed about 2,000 California National Guard troops under federal control under Title 10 without the governor’s consent, the first such move over a governor’s objection since 1965. On June 9 the Pentagon ordered 700 active-duty Marines to the city and federalized another 2,000 Guard members.
On June 10, at an Oval Office event, Trump told reporters there were several moments the night before when he could have invoked the Insurrection Act. He added: “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see.” California sued, saying there had been no rebellion or insurrection and that local police had the situation in hand.
The 1807 Insurrection Act lets a president use the military for domestic law enforcement. It was last invoked in 1992, at California’s request. Trump did not invoke it, but the troops remained in Los Angeles for weeks.
Who benefited
The White House established that it could put federalized Guard and active-duty troops into an American city over the governor’s objection. It kept the Insurrection Act as a standing threat. Immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles proceeded under military protection.
Who wanted something
Trump made the threat and signed the federalization order. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Marines, citing threats to federal officers and buildings. Stephen Miller had pressed for a visible show of force against resistance to ICE. Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans defended the deployment.
Who lost out
Residents of Los Angeles faced armed federal troops at protests the city’s own police said they could handle. Governor Gavin Newsom and the state saw their authority over their own Guard overridden. A Congressional Research Service report describes the principle that the military stays out of domestic policing as one the American tradition abhors breaching.
Why it matters
The Insurrection Act is the most sweeping domestic-force power a president holds, and it has almost no provision for judicial or congressional review. Trump federalized the Guard first and weighed the Act second. Troops in a city became the response to protest, and the Act became the next step.