Former LAPD chief Michelle Moore has raised concerns about President Trump’s decision to send military forces to Los Angeles. In an op-ed published on the New York Times, she described this move as “conflicting with our democratic principles” and “tactically unhealthy.”
Moore discovered that a federal judge’s ruling on the deployment of the National Guard was temporarily put on hold by an appeals court, which is set to review the situation on Tuesday.
Having served as LAPD chief from 2018 to 2024, Moore expressed that Trump’s military mobilization undermines the capabilities of local law enforcement, which is more than equipped to handle large protests. She emphasized that the current situation in Los Angeles doesn’t reach a level that would warrant military involvement.
“California’s emergency response system is among the most sophisticated in the nation,” she noted. “Our management system and mutual aid resources enable local agencies to request support from nearby law enforcement and the California Highway Patrol when needed. The activation of these resources has been effective in past emergencies. Deploying federal forces disrupts these established systems.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass both opposed the military presence, blaming Trump for inflating tensions unnecessarily.
Moore referenced the historical tragedy at Kent State, where unarmed student protesters were shot by National Guard forces, to underline the dangers of military deployment in civilian contexts. She suggested that such actions could lead to tragic outcomes and erode public trust.
In response, Trump claimed on Wednesday that Los Angeles police had supported the deployment, a statement that LAPD chief Jim McDonnell contradicted during a CNN appearance. “We are not at the level of reaching out to the governor for the National Guard right now,” he stated.
Moore concurred, arguing that the use of federal forces should only happen at the explicit request of local leaders during widespread civil authority failures. “That wasn’t the case in Los Angeles,” she criticized, highlighting a lack of proper consultation with city and county officials.
While acknowledging the serious incidents of anxiety and violence in parts of downtown, Moore emphasized that these localized issues can be adequately managed by local law enforcement. “This isn’t a rebellion,” she clarified, “and our forces can handle the situation.”
The military deployment coincided with Trump’s earlier announcement about sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles and San Francisco, where public images showed service members resting in what appeared to be a loading dock. Furthermore, reports indicated that an additional 700 Marines would also be mobilized in Los Angeles, though they hadn’t completed their pre-training yet.
The protests in Los Angeles were initially ignited by frustration over recent attacks on immigrants in the city, prompting demonstrations against immigration enforcement that have spread to other locations as well.
