Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles Sparks Military Concerns

As President Donald Trump pushed to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines to American cities, military leaders privately raised concerns over whether the troops were adequately trained and warned of potential “far-reaching social, political and operational” consequences, according to a Reuters review of internal military records disclosed in court.

During the June deployment in Los Angeles, U.S. Army officials planning an operation in MacArthur Park determined that using troops to protect immigration agents posed an “extremely high” risk to civilians, military personnel, and the reputation of the armed forces. Internal documents highlighted concerns that the operation could provoke protests escalating into riots, along with miscommunication, fratricide, and accidental harm to civilians, including children.

The revelations come amid a lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom challenging the legality of the deployment. The documents provide rare insight into commanders’ apprehensions after Trump broke a longstanding tradition of keeping the military separate from domestic law enforcement over the objections of local authorities. Republican Trump deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles and has since expanded military presence to Washington, D.C., with potential plans for other cities.

To mitigate risk, military lawyers drafted on-phone rules for the use of force and de-escalation, emphasizing the high stakes of domestic operations. “American military forces operating in U.S. communities have significant implications, and mistakes by even a few soldiers can create wide-reaching consequences,” noted one document titled Los Angeles Civil Unrest SRUF.

Former Army Secretary Louis Caldera, who served under President Bill Clinton, said deploying the military domestically risks soldiers’ safety, undermines recruitment, and erodes public trust. Military planners also conducted rehearsals and reinforced training, but internal messages questioned whether limited civil disturbance preparation was sufficient.

The MacArthur Park operation on July 7 lasted about an hour and reportedly passed without incident, though officials labeled it a “political stunt.” Lessons from the deployment were shared with officers in other regions to prepare for potential future missions, highlighting ongoing tensions over the military’s role in domestic law enforcement.