WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump defended his decision to deploy federal troops to Los Angeles during an Oval Office address Tuesday, flanked by key members of his cabinet. Responding to growing questions over the legality and scale of the response to immigration-related protests, Trump stopped short of invoking the Insurrection Act but left the door open.

“If I didn’t send in the troops to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground right now,” Trump said, reiterating comments he made earlier on Truth Social. He claimed credit for preventing widespread destruction, while criticizing California’s permitting delays and state leadership as “a total mess”.

The president’s comments come amid intensifying criticism from state officials and legal scholars over the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines. The move followed several days of protests sparked by federal immigration raids, which have drawn both peaceful demonstrators and violent confrontations.

Asked directly by a reporter whether he would invoke the Insurrection Act—a law allowing the use of federal military forces for domestic law enforcement—Trump responded, “We’ll see if the Insurrection Act is needed,” signaling a cautious approach for now.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, in a sharply worded response, accused the administration of overstepping federal authority and vowed to file a lawsuit challenging what he described as an unconstitutional federalization of the National Guard. “I care about my community more than my own safety,” Newsom said Monday, daring federal officials to arrest him.

The deployment has drawn scrutiny from legal experts, including Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, who described the action as “truly chilling.” Under 10 U.S.C. § 12406, the president may activate the National Guard in the face of rebellion or obstruction of federal law, but critics argue the statute offers insufficient justification for bypassing state consent.

Trump’s memorandum authorizing the troop deployment notably avoids invoking the Insurrection Act. Instead, it leans on constitutional powers to protect federal personnel and property. However, as protests persist, the legality of these justifications could face tests in federal court.

Despite claims of violent behavior—including reported assaults on police officers and the use of a Molotov cocktail—the Los Angeles mayor described the demonstrations as “relatively minor,” with around 100 protesters participating at the outset. Former congressman and retired general William Enyart called the deployment unprecedented, warning of a “politicization of military force on U.S. soil”.

The White House insists the Guard will remain in place “until the danger subsides,” but offered no timeline. As legal challenges mount and protests continue, Trump’s approach to federal authority in California could become a defining flashpoint in an already turbulent political climate.