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Fact check: Did Trump really deploy the national guard to LA

Checked on June 8, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Trump definitively deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles [1] [2] [3]. The deployment was federalized, meaning Trump took direct control of the troops from the state government [1]. The troops were specifically from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team [4] and were deployed for a 60-day period [2] [5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements were missing from the original question:

  • The deployment was in response to immigration protests and ICE raids across California [2], not general civil unrest
  • The deployment was made against the explicit wishes of both California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass [4]
  • Trump justified the action as necessary to "address the lawlessness" [6] and to "temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel" [5]
  • The deployment was executed under Title 10 federal authority [5]
  • Governor Newsom characterized the deployment as "purposefully inflammatory" [7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no nature of the original question obscures several important aspects:

  • Power dynamics: The deployment represents a significant federal override of state authority, as Trump used federal law to take control of state troops [1] [3]
  • Political implications: This action benefited federal immigration enforcement agencies (ICE) while potentially undermining state and local authority
  • Timing context: As of early Sunday morning, the National Guard had not yet arrived despite the authorization [7], showing a gap between announcement and implementation
  • The deployment was justified by Trump citing "numerous incidents of violence and disorder" [5], though the specific incidents were not detailed in any of the sources
Want to dive deeper?
What are the legal requirements for a president to deploy National Guard to states?
Has Trump previously deployed National Guard to California during his presidency?
What is the current status of National Guard deployment in Los Angeles?
Can a former president order National Guard deployments?
What role does the California governor play in National Guard deployment decisions?