Fact Check: It was the first time it was activated without a governor's permission since 1965.

Fact Check: "It was the first time it was activated without a governor's permission since 1965."

What We Know

The claim that it was the first time a U.S. president activated a state's National Guard without the governor's permission since 1965 is supported by multiple reputable sources. In March 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson invoked his authority to deploy the National Guard in Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators from violence, bypassing Governor George Wallace, who was opposed to the marchers (source-1, source-4). This historical precedent is significant because, typically, National Guard activations occur at the request of state governors, who have command over these troops (source-3).

In recent events, President Donald Trump activated approximately 2,000 National Guard troops in California to address immigration protests, marking the first instance since Johnson's action that a president has done so without a governor's request (source-2, source-6). This deployment was characterized as a response to what the administration described as "violent mobs" obstructing federal law enforcement (source-2).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, with multiple sources confirming that President Trump’s recent activation of the National Guard in California is indeed the first such instance since 1965. The sources include major news outlets such as The New York Times, which detailed the historical context of Johnson's decision and the implications of Trump's actions (source-1, source-2).

The reliability of these sources is high; they are well-established news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. Additionally, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Brennan Center for Justice, cited in the articles, are reputable institutions that provide factual analysis on governmental actions and legal frameworks (source-1, source-4).

Critically, while some sources mention the potential for escalation of tensions due to Trump's actions, they do not dispute the factual basis of the claim regarding the historical precedent set by Johnson in 1965, reinforcing the claim's validity (source-5, source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that it was the first time since 1965 that a president activated a state's National Guard without the governor's permission is True. The historical context provided by multiple credible sources confirms that President Trump’s actions are unprecedented in the last six decades, aligning with the actions taken by President Johnson during the civil rights movement.

Fact Check: It was the first time it was activated without a governor's permission since 1965.