Washington, D.C. — After President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to respond to protests in Los Angeles—over the objections of the state’s governor—Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This is a dangerous escalation that puts American communities and our democracy at risk. Trump’s decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles is meant to inflame tensions—not to keep Californians safe. This is the first time in 60 years that a president has deployed the National Guard to a state without the state’s request. And it’s being done over the objection of California’s elected officials who have the resources they need to keep the public safe and arrest those violating the law. The Los Angeles Police Department even issued a statement saying protests remained peaceful and that it was prepared to respond to any civil unrest.
Trump’s action also puts troops in danger because they are simply not suited or trained for this kind of mission. Using the military for this politically charged act will only make the situation worse, and it will damage morale, recruitment, and retention of our service members.
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].