A new report claims that the top military commander of the National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles has requested that 200 National Guard members be returned to fight wildfires after being deployed by President Donald Trump in response to major protests and riots in Los Angeles.
According to The Associated Press, two anonymous U.S. officials told the outlet on Monday that the top military commander in charge of the National Guard troops deployed by the Trump administration to address the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Los Angeles and the surrounding region requested that 200 of the National Guard troops return to fighting wildfires in the state.
The anonymous officials told The Associated Press that Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, asked Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for 200 of the roughly 4,000 California National Guard troops deployed by the Trump administration to be returned to Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, which serves as the wildfire unit for the California National Guard.
READ MORE: Videos/Pics: Nat’l Guard deployed amid major anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles
In a Monday press release, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) warned that the California National Guard was understaffed as the state prepares for its peak wildfire season. The governor blamed the understaffing on Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
In a Monday press release, Newsom’s office said, “With fires popping up across the state and red flag conditions in the forecast, the California National Guard’s (CalGuard) critical firefighting crews – known as Task Force Rattlesnake – are operating at just 40% capacity. Eight of 14 teams have been diverted to Los Angeles as part of President Trump’s illegal – and highly inefficient – federalization of the Guard.”
“We’re glad to see the top military commander overseeing Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles agree: it’s time to pull back National Guard troops and get them back to their critical firefighting duties,” the California governor stated. “President Trump: listen to your military leaders, and stop the political theater.”
