In a dramatic turn of events, the Trump administration has begun pulling back California National Guard troops from Los Angeles, marking a partial retreat from its heavily criticized military response to immigration protests. The sudden withdrawal of 2,000 soldiers, deployed amidst raids on local businesses, hints at a quiet shift in federal strategy. As tensions simmer and political voices clash, questions now arise about the future of the remaining forces, the use of federal power, and the fine line between public safety and political theatre—unfolding under a sky still heavy with unrest.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• 2,000 California National Guard troops withdrawn from Los Angeles by Trump administration

• Original deployment of 4,000 troops was in response to protests over immigration raids

• Federal raids targeted farms, restaurants, and hardware stores in the Los Angeles area

• Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass criticize federal overreach and call for complete troop withdrawal

• Trump claimed LA would be “burning” without military presence

• Federal appeals court allowed Trump to retain control over Guard deployment

• One brigade remains in the city with no clear timeline for full demobilization

• Trump silent on withdrawal after returning to Washington from Pittsburgh

In a move signaling a shift in federal strategy, the Trump administration has begun withdrawing half of the National Guard troops it had deployed to Los Angeles in response to weeks of protests triggered by aggressive immigration enforcement. The withdrawal, affecting nearly 2,000 members of the California National Guard, marks a partial rollback of President Donald Trump’s militarized approach to civil unrest across Southern California.

The protests erupted after a wave of immigration raids conducted by federal authorities targeted farms, restaurants, and hardware stores throughout the Los Angeles area. Tensions quickly escalated, prompting the administration to deploy 4,000 California National Guardsmen on June 7, alongside 700 U.S. Marines tasked with protecting federal properties. The scale and nature of the deployment drew swift and intense backlash from California’s Democratic leaders, who questioned the necessity and legality of the president’s actions.

Pentagon officials stated that the decision to release half of the deployed troops came after assessing the ground situation.

“Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding,”
said Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell in a statement issued on July 15.

“As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission.”

The military deployment was widely seen as a federal show of force amid the unrest. But as demonstrations continued—many of them peaceful—critics increasingly accused the administration of overstepping its authority and fueling tension rather than defusing it. President Trump, defending the original deployment, insisted that federal intervention was essential to maintain order.

“Los Angeles would be burning right now,”
Trump previously claimed,
“if not for the military presence.”

Despite this, Governor Gavin Newsom, who has consistently opposed the militarization of the state’s streets, reiterated his call for a full withdrawal of National Guard personnel.

“While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining guards members continue without a mission, without direction, and without any hopes of returning to help their communities,”
Newsom said in a formal statement.

“We call on Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theater and send everyone home now.”

The governor had earlier taken legal action against the Trump administration over the federalized guard deployment. Newsom and other state officials maintained that the National Guard should serve state emergencies—not be drawn into federal political conflicts.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised the decision to scale back the military presence. Bass, who had joined legal and civic efforts to oppose the deployment, viewed the withdrawal as a testament to community resilience.

“This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong,”
Bass declared.

“We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court—all of this led to today’s retreat.”

She added that the city’s fight was far from over.

“We will not stop making our voices heard until this ends, not just here in LA, but throughout our country,”
she said.

According to a Defense Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the withdrawn troops belong to one brigade, while another brigade—consisting of several thousand soldiers—remains stationed in the region. Though critics continue to press for full withdrawal, the Pentagon has not indicated a specific timeline for the return of the remaining guardsmen.

The partial drawdown comes even as a federal appeals court ruled in June that the Trump administration could retain operational control over the National Guard under the current mission.

Trump, returning to the White House from a trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, did not respond to a reporter’s question about the withdrawal decision. The president walked past the press pool without offering comment, maintaining silence on a development that has drawn national attention.

As protests continue to ripple across the country over immigration policy and federal enforcement tactics, the events in Los Angeles reflect a broader debate about the limits of presidential authority and the role of the military in managing domestic unrest.

The Pentagon’s decision to withdraw a significant portion of National Guard troops from Los Angeles marks a pivotal moment in the unfolding immigration protest narrative. As military boots leave city streets and political pressure intensifies, the focus shifts to the broader implications of federal power in local crises. While the administration maintains its stance on law and order, the public and state leaders continue to challenge the necessity—and legality—of such deployments. In this evolving landscape, the line between protection and provocation remains thin, and the final act is far from over.

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