Pentagon Recalls Marines from Los Angeles Amidst Mayor's Criticism

Withdrawal of Active Duty Marines

• Pentagon is confirming the recall of 700 active duty Marines who were previously sent to Los Angeles.
• These Marines were reportedly deployed for tasks such as crowd control.

Mayor Bass's Stance on Deployment

• Mayor Karen Bass stated that the deployment was not what the Marines are trained for and that their presence in Los Angeles is not needed.
• Bass criticized the decision as a "misuse of power" and "misuse of taxpayer money."
• She emphasized the need for the National Guard to assist with fire season preparedness, not to guard buildings that are not under attack.

Context of the Deployment

• The Marines and National Guard were initially dispatched by President Trump in early June.
• Their stated purpose was to help enforce immigration raids and address civil unrest during protests.
• The presence of these military personnel was questioned by Mayor Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, and other local representatives.

Previous Departures and Limited Use

• This withdrawal follows the earlier departure of nearly 2,000 California National Guard soldiers.
• A smaller contingent of specialized card firefighters also departed.
• Mayor Bass noted that out of approximately 4,000 initially deployed, half were sent home, and only 200 were actually utilized for specific tasks, such as defending the Wilson Building in Westwood.
• The troops reportedly never faced a challenge and did not sign up to intimidate Americans or take military action against citizens exercising their constitutional right to protest.