The last time Lyndon Johnson sent National Guard soldiers to a state without receiving such a request from the governor was in 1965. Now Trump has done it again. Why?
Donald Trump sent National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles. There have been mass protests against the deportations of migrants for days. The city has seen clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, who, according to media reports, used tear gas and smoke grenades.
Trump's move is unusual, since the National Guard is generally under the control of local governors. However, the US president decided to bypass California's. Gavin Newsom wrote that the president's actions are "illegal" and "will only increase tensions". The last time a president sent the National Guard to a state without receiving a request from the governor was in 1965, when Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Alabama to protect protesters in support of civil rights.
What is the National Guard and why did Trump decide to use it?
The National Guard is part of the reserve of the US armed forces and was created in 1903. It consists of two parts - the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It serves about 419 thousand reservists as of 2023. 9,500 of them are stationed in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
The National Guard has a wide range of operations. Its members can help with natural disasters - for example, during the wildfires in California in January 2025 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when more than 50,000 National Guard members supported the evacuation and restoration of order in New Orleans.
The National Guard can also help with security. During the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, 25,000 soldiers were sent to Washington to ensure that Joe Biden's inauguration would go smoothly. They were also mobilized in a number of cities during the protests after the death of George Floyd. The National Guard can also be involved in missions abroad - for example in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Who gives orders to the National Guard?
When Guard members operate in a particular state, the governor assumes their command. In operations at the federal level, the supreme command is assumed by the US president.
When sending the National Guard to Los Angeles, US President Donald Trump invoked national security. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment and accused the government of "purposefully" inflaming tensions with its intervention.
Who can serve?
In principle, all US citizens can become members of the National Guard. However, they must meet certain physical, intellectual and legal requirements. For most members of the National Guard, service is a side job, but there are also professional soldiers.
Soldiers who have served in the military can then apply for service in the National Guard. They usually do not need additional training.
The typical scope of service is one weekend per month and two weeks per year. For weekend service in the National Guard, they receive between $200 and $600, depending on their rank.