247 - The United States government, under the command of President Donald Trump, has intensified its response to the protests in Los Angeles by sending about 700 active-duty Marines to reinforce the National Guard in the city. The information was confirmed by a source linked to the Department of Defense, according to the Bloomberg agency.

The troops were deployed from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, and deployed after receiving the order over the weekend. CNN reported on the preparations on Monday.

The decision represents a significant escalation in the crackdown on protests, and has drawn harsh reactions from local authorities. California Governor Gavin Newsom has harshly criticized the initiative. Referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who suggested deploying marines, he called the proposal “insane behavior.”

Law prevents military use in internal police actions

In the United States, federal law prohibits the use of the military — including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines — in public safety operations on domestic soil. The law, however, does not apply to the National Guard under state command.

However, on Sunday, Trump signed an order handing over control of the National Guard in California to the U.S. Northern Command, with a mandate to send at least 2,000 troops to the region. The president also authorized Hegseth to deploy “additional members of the regular military as needed.”

Newsom immediately responded, calling the order “illegal” and demanding it be revoked. The governor warned that the military presence would only exacerbate tensions and announced that California would sue the federal government.

Trump downplays and threatens governor

During a White House event on Monday, the president defended the intervention by claiming that local authorities were “overwhelmed” and said he was prepared to send even more troops. “We need to make sure that there is law and order,” he said.

Asked about the deployment of the Marines, Trump appeared unaware and replied: “We’ll see what happens. I think it’s all very well controlled.”

Later that day, the president suggested the possibility of arresting Gavin Newsom for his role in the crisis. When asked to explain the accusation, Trump said: “His crime is running for governor, because he’s doing a terrible job.”