Residents in Los Angeles are set to begin interactions with local Marines starting Thursday, as part of a security operation that will initiate alongside the National Guard on Friday.
Reportedly, 700 Marines were dispatched by President Donald Trump to Seal Beach for non-lethal weapons training, which includes hand-to-hand combat and crowd control techniques. Training at Seal Beach has recently wrapped up, according to a U.S. defense representative.
Officials stated that the Marines are in the final stages of their training with the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, explaining, “We might start seeing Marines in the LA area today, although their official operations haven’t commenced yet.” Over 2,000 National Guard members remain in Los Angeles as protests are anticipated to unfold throughout the weekend.
A protest against President Trump, dubbed “no Kings,” is scheduled for Saturday and is expected to take place in cities across the U.S. Notably, this demonstration aligns with the president’s 79th birthday.
However, the Marines, under Northcom’s directive, are primarily designated to protect federal properties and assist law enforcement, which has sparked some criticism concerning the costs of military involvement. The deployment of Marines and the National Guard to California has cost taxpayers approximately $134 million, taking from operational and maintenance budgets.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the need for military presence to ensure safety in the city and for its residents, stating, “It’s not about lethality. It’s about maintaining law and order for law enforcement who shouldn’t have to work amid hostile crowds.” In light of legal challenges from California Governor Gavin Newsom, Hegseth pointed out that there are “many precedents” where the U.S. has backed law enforcement actions.
