In 2020, Donald Trump said “we have to go by the laws” when it comes to getting a governor’s permission to deploy a state’s National Guard. In 2025, the president responded to the Los Angeles immigration protests by saying “BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” over Gov. Gavin Newsom’s objections.
At a September 2020 town hall with George Stephanopoulos, the ABC News host questioned Trump on whether he delivered on his promise to “restore law and order” to the country.
“I have!” Trump insisted.
“Look, we have laws. We have to go by the laws,” Trump continued. “We can't move in the National Guard. I can call insurrection, but there's no reason to ever do that, even in a Portland case.”
“We can’t call in the National Guard unless we’re requested by a governor,” Trump explained.
Fast forward to 2025, Trump deployed California’s National Guard over the objections of Newsom, a Democrat whom Trump frequently targets. “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” the president posted on Truth Social shortly after midnight on Monday.
Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act. On Monday afternoon, the U.S. military announced it had also deployed 700 Marines to LA in response to the protests. The Marines, however, will be prohibited from arresting anyone — unless Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.
Newsom announced Monday that California will sue the Trump administration over an “illegal” federalization of the National Guard.
