National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles to quell anti-Trump protests express deep dissatisfaction with their assignment, citing concerns about being used as political pawns in a domestic operation outside their expertise. Multiple advocacy groups representing military families report widespread unhappiness among service members, with no dissenting opinions heard. The deployment, ordered by President Trump without California’s governor’s consent, has been criticized as a provocation, with reports of inadequate living conditions for the troops. Public opinion polls reveal significant disapproval of both the deployment and Trump’s immigration policies.
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Democratic Senators Warren and Blumenthal urged President Biden to issue a policy directive restricting President-elect Trump’s ability to deploy U.S. troops domestically without explicit state or local requests for assistance, citing concerns about Trump’s past statements and potential misuse of the Insurrection Act. The senators’ proposed directive would limit military deployment to situations where state authorities are overwhelmed or unable to act, emphasizing the need to adhere to the Posse Comitatus Act’s restrictions on domestic law enforcement. This preemptive measure aims to counter Trump’s expressed intentions to utilize the military for domestic purposes, including immigration enforcement and suppressing perceived internal threats. The senators also requested that future administrations consult Congress before using the military domestically.
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John Q. Hosedrinker