Why Veterans Are Outraged About Trump Sending Troops to Los Angeles

As a veteran myself, I’ve seen a lot. I’ve trained, served, and worn the uniform with pride. But nothing—and I mean nothing—has felt more disrespectful to that service than watching Donald Trump deploy Marines and National Guard troops against American citizens in Los Angeles. This wasn’t about protecting people. This was about power, control, and silencing dissent. And honestly? It’s disgusting. It’s not just a bad decision—it’s a full-on betrayal of the Constitution and of every person who’s ever served this country with honor.

So here’s the deal. Earlier this June, Trump sent thousands of federalized troops—about 4,000 National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines—into Los Angeles. The reason? A massive ICE operation was underway, and people were rightfully protesting. These weren’t violent riots. These were people standing up for immigrant families, waving flags, chanting, and demanding dignity.


Instead of listening or de-escalating, Trump turned it into a military operation. ICE, DHS, Marines, and National Guard all flooded the streets, armored up like they were in Fallujah, not California. Protesters were kettled, arrested, and in some cases, injured. And yes—one sitting U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla, was handcuffed and dragged away for asking questions at a press conference. This is not normal.


Veterans all across the country are speaking out. Groups like Common Defense, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and even retired generals have blasted this deployment. They're saying loud and clear: this is not what the military is for. We didn’t sign up to be turned into Trump’s personal security force or used as a scare tactic to shut up protesters.


Marine veteran Janessa Goldbeck said it best: “U.S. citizens are not enemy combatants.” And she’s right. We’re trained to uphold the Constitution, not to turn our rifles on the very people we swore to protect. Using troops this way violates the spirit of our oath and military regulations that stress restraint and civilian protection.


Even the troops themselves are uncomfortable. Reports from The Guardian and Washington Post say morale is low and service members feel like pawns in a political stunt. That’s not just demoralizing—it’s dangerous. When the military starts acting like a domestic police force, things can go sideways fast.


Can Trump legally do this? Short answer: no, not really.


The Posse Comitatus Act says the military can’t be used for law enforcement on U.S. soil unless certain conditions are met. The only real workaround is the Insurrection Act, which Trump didn’t invoke. So without that legal cover, what he did was—at best—questionable, and at worst, flat-out illegal.


A federal judge actually stepped in and blocked parts of the deployment, saying Trump overstepped his authority. According to legal scholars, this is a major breach of the balance between federal and state power. California didn’t ask for troops. Trump forced them in anyway. That’s not leadership. That’s dictatorship vibes.


This whole thing makes my blood boil. We trained to defend freedom, not squash it. Using the military against our own people is a slap in the face to every veteran who ever believed in the flag. It’s deplorable, it’s dangerous, and it’s just another reason why Trump has to go. He’s not protecting the country—he’s tearing it apart and turning the United States into a global joke. I mean, how do we talk about democracy abroad when we’re shoving soldiers into our own cities like we’re a banana republic?


Enough is enough. Trump’s actions in L.A. prove he doesn’t care about the Constitution or the military—just about staying in power. And as a veteran, I say it loud: this is not okay. He should be removed from office before he does even more damage.


Sources:


Goldbeck, Janessa. “I served in the Marines. Sending them to Los Angeles is wrong.” The Washington Post, 12 June 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/12/los-angeles-marines-immigration-trump/.


“Troops and Marines deeply troubled by LA deployment: 'Morale is not great'.” The Guardian, 12 June 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-national-guard-troops-marines-morale.


“Military veterans object to Donald Trump's intervention in Los Angeles.” Financial Times, 10 June 2025. https://www.ft.com/content/ff61c9b0-6466-4cd0-8ccf-b6903b329bb2.


“Trump exceeded powers by sending National Guard to L.A., judge rules.” San Francisco Chronicle, 12 June 2025. https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/trump-national-guard-la-court-order-19458729.php.


“Explainer: Does U.S. law allow Trump to send troops to quell protests?” Reuters, 8 June 2025. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-law-trump-send-troops-protests-2025-06-08/.

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