The Trump administration has tried to portray the demonstrations in California against its anti-immigrant raids as chaos at a scale worthy of sending in the national guard. The Los Angeles Police chief is pushing back.

For months during the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump promised to use the military domestically. His campaign telegraphed it via news coverage and reports from friendly nonprofits; Trump mused about using soldiers against protests.

President Donald Trump has built his presidency around stretching the bounds of presidential authority, and his response to protests over an immigration crackdown in Los Angeles is no exception.