Over 1,000 National Guard Troops to Exit L.A. as Newsom Claims Trump’s Stunt Failed

Pentagon Orders Withdrawal of Over 1,000 National Guard Troops from Los Angeles

Federal Troops Begin Drawdown After Controversial Deployment

Nearly two months after President Trump made headlines by sending National Guard troops into Los Angeles to respond to unrest linked to immigration raids, the Pentagon has now announced a significant withdrawal. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that approximately 1,350 National Guard personnel be pulled from the city—part of an ongoing reduction in federal troop presence that began earlier this month.

The drawdown follows the June deployment of more than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and Marines to L.A. amid rising tension over immigration enforcement operations. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, around 250 California Guard members will remain to safeguard federal buildings and personnel.

“We’re grateful for the efforts of those who responded to support federal operations during a time of unrest,” Parnell said in a statement.

Local Officials Applaud Troop Withdrawal

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, an outspoken critic of the deployment, welcomed the news on social media.

“Another win for Los Angeles,” she posted on X. “We will keep up the pressure until every last troop is out of the city.”

Bass had previously described the deployment as an “armed occupation,” echoing a broader outcry from California’s Democratic leaders who opposed the move from the start.

Widespread Opposition and Legal Pushback

The presence of federal troops in Los Angeles proved highly divisive. President Trump defended the deployment as necessary to restore order amid vandalism, arson, and clashes involving ICE agents. However, state officials argued that local law enforcement was fully capable of handling the unrest and that federal forces only escalated tensions.

The day after troops began arriving on June 8, Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against the federal government. The complaint accused the Trump administration of violating the 10th Amendment by overstepping state authority, calling the action an “unprecedented usurpation.”

Newsom also criticized the diversion of the California National Guard from vital missions such as wildfire response and drug enforcement, calling the move a misuse of state military resources.

Newsom: ‘Political Theater’ That Backfired

Following the latest announcement from the Pentagon, Newsom’s office issued a pointed response.

“President Trump is realizing that his political theater backfired,” the statement read. “This militarization was never needed and has proven deeply unpopular. Our military personnel should not be used as political props. The cost to society and the economy is too high.”

Newsom’s office reiterated its demand for a complete end to what it calls an unlawful deployment, urging the federal government to prioritize real threats instead of symbolic shows of force.

Diminishing Role, Mounting Costs

As protests in Los Angeles quieted in the weeks following the deployment, the National Guard’s presence appeared increasingly redundant. By July, only a small portion—roughly 3%—of deployed troops were participating in daily missions, according to sources within the governor’s office.

“There’s not much going on,” admitted one Marine stationed outside the Wilshire Federal Building.

Most troops spent their time at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, waiting for orders that rarely came. The Pentagon previously estimated that the entire operation could cost approximately $134 million.

In earlier drawdowns, nearly 2,000 California National Guard soldiers were pulled from L.A. on July 15, followed by the withdrawal of 700 active-duty Marines on July 21.

What Comes Next?

As only a small contingent of federal troops remains in Los Angeles, the future of military involvement in local civil matters remains in question. With legal challenges ongoing and public opposition mounting, political leaders continue to pressure Washington to fully end the deployment—and reconsider the use of federal force in domestic affairs.