Marines Begin Operational Support in Los Angeles Amid Protests
Marines are transitioning to operational support in Los Angeles ahead of nationwide anti-Trump protests. The deployment, approved under President Trump’s orders, involves 700 Marines moving from training to mission-familiarization alongside the National Guard. Despite legal challenges from Governor Gavin Newsom, officials defend the deployment as necessary to protect law enforcement and maintain order during protests. The cost of the military operation is estimated at $134 million, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizing the need to support ICE agents and ensure public safety.
Los Angeles residents may begin seeing Marines in the area as soon as Thursday, with protection operations in coordination with the National Guard set to begin Friday. The 700 Marines were reportedly sent by President Donald Trump to Seal Beach, which is south of L.A. County, to train for nonlethal weapons training—including hand-to-hand combat and crowd control. Seal Beach training recently finished, and the Marines have moved to