Defense Secretary’s Remarks on National Guard Deployment

During a recent exchange, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses addressed Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum after she criticized President Donald Trump regarding his handling of a National Guard and US Marines deployment, particularly in Los Angeles. McCollum highlighted Trump’s decision as “premature” and an escalation of tensions, pushing lawmakers to juxtapose this reaction against how Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz managed the 2020 riots.

Hegses brought up the turmoil that unfolded in Minnesota under Governor Waltz’s leadership during that period. McCollum remarked, “Governor Waltz has decided to call the Minnesota State Guard. Our local law enforcement and the National Guard should have been sufficient to manage the situation. History shows they could handle the chaos from that weekend.”

In his reply, Hegses reminded lawmakers that the violence in Minnesota led to an “abandoned” Minneapolis Police Station, which was ultimately “burned to the ground.” He noted the extended period of unrest in Minneapolis, criticizing the delayed mobilization of the National Guard.

“Rep., thanks for the question. You’re right, we’re both from Minnesota. So when Governor Waltz abandoned the police district and let it burn to the ground, I often think back to 2020,” Hegses remarked, pointing out the five days of confusion before the National Guard was deployed.

Hegses added, “President Trump is aware of that situation and was ineffectively hindered by the governor. This posed a problem for citizens across the state, similar to what Governor Waltz faced.” He emphasized that federal law enforcement, like ICE, holds that each state should ensure safety within its own borders.

In response to significant unrest, Trump dispatched roughly 2,000 National Guard troops along with about 700 US Marines to Los Angeles. This decision followed incidents of riots, including looting and vandalism. Despite live coverage of the chaos, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass termed her city as “serene.”

The actions taken by Trump led to a lawsuit from California’s Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom. Significant violence erupted in Minneapolis on May 28, 2020, when rioters set fire to the third precinct amid unrest following George Floyd’s death on May 25. Estimated damages from that riot have reached around $500 million.

Following the destruction of the police precinct, Governor Waltz criticized the city’s inadequate response, acknowledging the delays in deploying the National Guard, which were fully mobilized by May 30, leading to thousands of troops being dispatched.