President Donald Trump considered invoking the Insurrection Act to expand military use domestically as he deployed troops to Los Angeles following protests sparked by ICE raids. Trump expressed willingness to invoke the act in response to what he deemed as “terrible” situations in the region. Despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, the California National Guard was sent to Los Angeles, leading to a legal challenge from the state. Additional support from Marines was provided amid protests against immigration enforcement efforts. The deployed troops were tasked with safeguarding federal property and law enforcement officials, with the Insurrection Act potentially granting broader authority to Trump. Newsom criticized Trump’s actions, labeling them as dictatorial and accusing him of inciting violence and militarizing cities.

Experts view invoking the Insurrection Act as a significant and extreme measure, historically done 30 times in U.S. history. Duke Law Professor H. Jefferson Powell highlighted the act’s broad and potentially dangerous scope. The most recent use of the act was in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of police officers involved in the Rodney King case. The debate surrounding the act underscores its controversial nature and implications for civil-military relations in the United States.