Donald Trump Orders 2,000 More National Guardsman to California as the Pentagon Scrambles to Deploy Marines

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Here’s the news of the day:

  • Governor Gavin Newsom says he’s been informed that Trump is sending an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles.

  • Around 700 Marines are set to be deployed to Los Angeles within hours to handle immigration-related protests, according to U.S. officials.

  • LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said the department was caught off guard by news that 700 Marines are being deployed to Los Angeles and warned it could complicate efforts to manage ongoing protests.

  • He stressed that without proper coordination, the military's arrival poses serious logistical and operational challenges. McDonnell urged all agencies to maintain clear communication to avoid confusion and keep the response orderly.

  • The Pentagon is rushing to set clear rules for U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles, where they may face the rare challenge of dealing with civilians during immigration protest responses. While they’ve been trained in deescalation and crowd control, the deployment of active-duty troops on U.S. soil raises serious concerns.

  • California has filed an official lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the National Guard deployment, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections.

  • Donald Trump said he supports arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom, but when asked what crime Newsom committed, he couldn’t name one. Instead, Trump said Newsom’s “primary crime” was simply being governor and doing a poor job.

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed he sent a Marine battalion to Los Angeles because Governor Gavin Newsom wasn’t protecting federal immigration officers from protesters. Hegseth, a former Fox News host appointed by Trump, made the announcement on Elon Musk’s social media platform, admitting the LAPD wasn’t notified in advance. His statement has been criticized as highly partisan.

  • Surveillance software used in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration has strong ties to the LAPD. The data firm Palantir, which helps Homeland Security track and deport immigrants, first secured a major law enforcement contract with the LAPD in 2009—worth over $20 million by 2018. The software pulls together data from arrests, license plate readers, police stops, and even footage from sources like self-driving cars.

  • Federal prosecutors have charged SEIU California president David Huerta with conspiracy to obstruct an officer during last week’s immigration raid. Huerta, 58, was detained in downtown Los Angeles on Friday and appeared in federal court Monday. He faces a felony charge that could lead to up to six years in prison, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

  • Families in Los Angeles are desperately searching for loved ones detained during a wave of immigration raids over the weekend, which included arrests at a garment warehouse, a Home Depot, and even near schools.

  • Many of those taken—some with no criminal records—remain unreachable, prompting outcry from relatives, faith leaders, and immigration advocates. Lawyers say detainees have been held in harsh conditions, and calls for their release have intensified as protests continue and more National Guard troops arrive in the city.

  • A fourth court has ruled that President Trump misused the Alien Enemies Act by trying to expand the definition of 'invasion.' The decision stops AEA-based deportations in the Western District of Texas.

  • RFK Jr. has dismissed the entire scientific panel that advises the CDC on vaccine guidelines, according to CNBC.

  • A federal judge in New York has found that the Trump administration broke the law and violated trust by hastily sending federal employee data to DOGE, breaching the Privacy Act and cybersecurity rules.

  • The Freedom Flotilla headed for Gaza, carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists, was intercepted by Israeli forces and brought to an Israeli port on Monday. The vessel, stopped under Israel’s ongoing blockade—which has intensified during the Israel-Hamas war—arrived in Ashdod that evening.

  • A loose pet zebra named Ed was finally captured in Tennessee on Sunday. According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, he was airlifted into an animal trailer after being on the run since May 31.

  • A judge has thrown out Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

See you in the morning.

— Aaron