Fact Check: President Trump Suggested National Guard Deployment Led to Peaceful Protests in Los Angeles
What We Know
On June 15, 2025, President Trump ordered the deployment of approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid escalating protests against his immigration policies. The protests began in response to federal immigration raids targeting undocumented workers, which had sparked significant unrest in the city and beyond (source-1, source-2). Local officials described the protests as mostly peaceful, although there were instances of violence and clashes with law enforcement (source-1).
Despite the presence of National Guard troops, reports indicate that tensions remained high, and there were still confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. For instance, on the day of the National Guard's deployment, while some areas experienced relative calm, there were still incidents of violence, including the use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades by police to disperse crowds (source-2, source-6).
Governor Gavin Newsom of California publicly opposed the deployment, arguing that it was an unlawful commandeering of state power and that the presence of troops could inflame tensions further (source-1, source-4).
Analysis
The claim that President Trump suggested the deployment of National Guard troops was the reason the protests in Los Angeles went peacefully on June 15, 2025, lacks substantiation. While it is true that the National Guard was deployed in response to the protests, the overall atmosphere remained tense, with reports of violence and arrests continuing even after their arrival. The assertion implies a direct causal relationship between the troop deployment and the peacefulness of the protests, which is not supported by the evidence.
Local officials and media reports indicate that while some protests may have been peaceful, there were significant instances of unrest, including clashes with police and the use of crowd-control measures (source-1, source-2). Furthermore, the context of the protests—stemming from anger over immigration raids—suggests that the deployment of troops was more likely to exacerbate tensions rather than quell them, as indicated by Governor Newsom's statements and the legal challenges against the deployment (source-4).
The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news outlets like The New York Times and Associated Press, which provide detailed reporting on the events surrounding the protests and the deployment of troops. However, the claim itself appears to be a simplification of a complex situation that involved significant civil unrest and governmental response.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The assertion that President Trump suggested the deployment of National Guard troops was the reason for the peacefulness of the protests in Los Angeles on June 15, 2025, is misleading. While the National Guard was deployed, the protests continued to experience violence and unrest, indicating that the presence of troops did not directly lead to a peaceful outcome. The evidence suggests that the situation remained volatile, contradicting the claim.
Sources
- What to Know About the Immigration Protests in Los Angeles
- What to know about the immigration protests in Los Angeles and ...
- Appeals court allows Trump to keep National Guard in L.A. ...
- Trump and LA: What laws give him authority to send federal troops - NPR
- National Guard Use in Los Angeles in Doubt After Court ...
- What to know about the Los Angeles immigration protests over ICE ...
- June 13, 2025 - News on protests over Trump's ...
- LA protests timeline: How ICE raids sparked demonstrations and Trump to ...
