‘Thrown out the playbook’: Trump’s extraordinary response to LA riots

For the first time in more than three decades, members of the United States Marine Corp will be deployed to quell violence on the streets of America. See why.

President Donald Trump’s decision to federalise the National Guard and deploy Marines to the streets of Los Angeles is an unprecedented departure from long-held protocol.

Military experts said the Trump administration had “thrown out the playbook” with its extraordinary response to the anti-ICE protests that will see almost 5000 soldiers deployed to Los Angeles in the coming days.

For the first time in more than three decades, members of the United States Marine Corp will be deployed to quell violence on the streets of America.

Military experts said the Trump administration had “thrown out the playbook” with its extraordinary response to the anti-ICE protests that will see almost 5000 soldiers deployed to Los Angeles in the coming days. Picture: RINGO CHIU / AFP

They will join 4000 troops mobilised when the President federalised the National Guard against the wishes of California’s Governor Gavin Newsom who warned the move risked inciting violence instead of stopping it.

He has slammed the President’s actions as that of a power-hungry dictator using the unrest to expand his executive powers.

It is the first time a President has federalised the National Guard without the consent of the state governor in more than 60 years.

The last President to do so was Lyndon Johnson in 1965 who invoked the authority in order to have troops protect civil rights advocates in the historic Selma to Montgomery march.

A protester taunts a line of California National Guard protecting a federal building in downtown Los Angeles. Picture: AP Photo/Eric Thayer

In 1992 President George HW Bush invoked the Insurrection Act to mobilise the National Guard in response to violent riots in Los Angeles after white police officers were acquitted of brutally beating an unarmed black man Rodney King.

But it was at the request of the Governor and Mayor after days of widespread carnage that resulted in dozens of deaths, about $500,000 in damage and hundreds of injuries.

In that instance, 2000 soldiers and 1500 marines were deployed to bring order to the battered city.

The President’s response is a stark contrast to the January 6 riots in Washington DC when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, injuring more than 150 police officers.

He later described January 6 as a “day of love” and went on to pardon many of those convicted over their participation in the violence.

A protester holds up their fingers in a peace sign as they face police officers in riot gear with nonlethal weapons during a protest following federal immigration. Picture: RINGO CHIU / AFP

In his first term, Mr Trump raised the idea of deploying troops in the wake up upheaval caused by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police however he didn’t follow through.

For the President, the chaos unfolding in LA is a welcome reprieve in a week when his public breakup with Elon Musk and criticism of his cornerstone spending legislation dominated the headlines.

It helps drive the Republican narrative that the Democrats are a party of chaos and lawlessness while the GOP is a pillar of strength, law and order.

Gov Newsom said the Marines were being used as political pawns.

He has already launched legal action over the National Guard decision and intends to do the same for the Marine deployment – however it may already be too late for LA.

Originally published as ‘Thrown out the playbook’: Trump’s extraordinary response to LA riots