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LAPD vs Pete Hegseth: Los Angeles police says ‘not informed’ about Marines' deployment
The Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said he was not informed about US Marines being deployed to LA amid the riots in the city.
The Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell on Monday said that he was not informed about US Marines being deployed to LA amid citywide protests. He further urged Pete Hegseth-led Pentagon to ensure to keep an ‘open and continuous lines of communication’ to ‘avoid confusion’.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell: "The LAPD has not received any formal notification that the Marines will be arriving in Los Angeles. However, the possible arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles—absent clear coordination—presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city.
"The Los Angeles Police Department, alongside our mutual aid partners, have decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstrations, and we remain confident in our ability to do so professionally and effectively. That said, our top priority is the safety of both the public and the officers on the ground. We are urging open and continuous lines of communication between all agencies to prevent confusion, avoid escalation, and ensure a coordinated, lawful, and orderly response during this critical time."
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles in response to ongoing protests. The decision was made without the consent of either California Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The following day, U.S. Northern Command confirmed that over 700 Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California had been mobilized to assist in managing the unrest.
“U.S. Northern Command has activated the Marine infantry battalion that was placed in an alert status over the weekend. Approximately 700 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division will seamlessly integrate with the Title 10 forces under Task Force 51 who are protecting federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area,” the statement said.
In response, Newsom said he could take legal action over the planned use of Marines.
In a post on X, he wrote, "U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country -- defending democracy. They are not political pawns. The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend. It's a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this. The Courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling. This is a red line — and they're crossing it. WAKE UP!"
