Trump Says He Would ‘Certainly Invoke’ Insurrection Act in LA If Needed

‘If we didn’t get involved, right now Los Angeles would be burning,’ the president says.

President Donald Trump is joined by 18th Airborne Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson (in beret) and other military and civilian leaders, including Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as they watch a demonstration by Special Operations soldiers at the Holland Drop Zone in Fort Bragg, N.C., on June 10, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would consider invoking the Insurrection Act if the unrest in Los Angeles deteriorates, coming after he ordered troops to the city amid days of protests and riots against immigration enforcement measures.

Among the most powerful tools a president has, the Insurrection Act authorizes the president to use the military to deal with rebellions or domestic violence inside the United States under certain circumstances. The act is an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the U.S. military from partaking in domestic law enforcement measures.