The Insurrection Act is a federal law that allows the president to deploy the military and National Guard troops to suppress civil disorder, insurrection or rebellion. It was last used by President George H. W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict in April 1992.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other leading California Democrats criticized President Trump’s deployment of National Guard soldiers in Los Angeles, calling it an unnecessary provocation.

Newsom said Trump's presidential memorandum from Saturday night was not issued through the "governor of the State," arguing that is unlawful under federal law.