Trump’s National Guard Troops Are ‘Sitting Unused Without Orders’ After Being Deployed for LA Protests, Gavin Newsom Reveals
The California governor said the troops had been left without food or water in federal buildings
California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles on President Donald Trump’s orders are unemployed and without clear direction, calling the situation a political maneuver.
The controversy stems from Trump’s decision to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles this weekend in response to protests against aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. On Monday, Newsom said he had been informed that an additional 2,000 troops were on the way, though most of the first ones had not yet been mobilized.
According to Newsom, only about 300 troops have actually been deployed, with the rest remaining in federal buildings “without orders.” The governor said the troops were being deprived of food and water and accused the White House of misusing military resources to boost Trump’s image.
Newsom wrote on Twitter: “The first 2,000 troops? No food or water. Only about 300 have been deployed; the rest are in federal buildings without orders.”
Trump’s decision comes amid growing protests in the city, with his administration arguing the deployment was necessary to restore order. The decision to send 700 Marines escalated tensions, with Newsom denouncing the involvement of active-duty military personnel as a violation of democratic principles.
“They should not be deployed on American soil to confront their own citizens,” Newsom wrote, calling the decision “un-American.”
The state attorney general has since filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the deployment, arguing the president overstepped his authority. For his part, Newsom insisted the National Guard’s presence was unnecessary and politically motivated.
While the White House insists that troops are participating in efforts to stabilize the area, their lack of active participation has drawn criticism from local officials and civil rights advocates.
