Approximately 500 US Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre in California have been activated in response to protests in Los Angeles. This mobilization adds to the thousands of National Guard troops already deployed under President Donald Trump’s orders, which were issued without the approval of California’s governor or the mayor of Los Angeles.
The decision to deploy an entire Marine battalion represents a notable escalation in Trump’s military strategy towards protest situations, although their specific roles in Los Angeles remain uncertain. Notably, both the Marines and National Guard personnel are restricted from engaging in law enforcement activities unless the Insurrection Act is invoked by the president.
Sources indicate that the Marines will enhance the National Guard’s presence on the ground, with over 2,000 California National Guard members now activated. So far, only around 300 of these troops have actively been deployed to LA, having quickly mobilised as they were engaged in a routine training exercise at the time of their activation.
The involvement of the Marines is intended to support existing security efforts but their exact responsibilities have yet to be publicly detailed. Possible tasks may range from crowd control to perimeter security setup. Additionally, the Defence Department is reportedly finalising guidelines on the appropriate use of force for the mobilised troops, which is expected to align with established military protocols.