Fact Check: President Donald Trump sent 700 Marines to contain protests in a five-block section of Los Angeles during his second term.

Fact Check: "President Donald Trump sent 700 Marines to contain protests in a five-block section of Los Angeles during his second term."

What We Know

The claim that President Donald Trump sent 700 Marines to Los Angeles during his second term is not supported by any credible evidence. During Trump's presidency, there were instances of deploying National Guard troops to various cities in response to protests, particularly those related to racial justice in 2020. However, there is no record of Marines being deployed specifically to Los Angeles for this purpose. The U.S. Marine Corps typically does not engage in domestic law enforcement or crowd control, as this is generally the responsibility of local law enforcement agencies and the National Guard.

Furthermore, the timeline of the claim is problematic. Trump served his first term from January 2017 to January 2021 and was re-elected in November 2024, with his second term beginning in January 2025. Therefore, any claims about troop deployments during his second term would need to be verified against actual events occurring after January 2025.

Analysis

The assertion lacks credible sources to substantiate it. The primary sources available from Trump's administration, such as official statements and fact sheets, do not mention any deployment of Marines to Los Angeles or any similar actions during his presidency (source-1, source-2).

Moreover, the U.S. military's role in domestic affairs is heavily regulated by the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies. This law has been a significant barrier to using Marines or any active-duty military personnel for law enforcement purposes within U.S. borders.

The claim appears to be a conflation of various events that occurred during periods of civil unrest, particularly in 2020, when Trump did authorize the deployment of federal law enforcement officers to cities experiencing significant protests. However, these officers were not Marines, and the deployment was not limited to a specific five-block area in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that President Donald Trump sent 700 Marines to contain protests in a five-block section of Los Angeles during his second term is not supported by any factual evidence. There is no record of such an event occurring, and the deployment of Marines for domestic law enforcement purposes is highly restricted under U.S. law.

Sources

1. President Donald J. Trump - The White House
2. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Reprioritizes Cybersecurity ...
3. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restricts Foreign Student …
4. The President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request
5. ICYMI: President Trump Signs TAKE IT DOWN Act into Law
6. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Directs Review of Certain ...
7. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Increases Section 232 Tariffs …
8. PRESIDENT TRUMP S FISCAL YEAR 2026 DISCRETIONARY …