Hegseth won't commit to obeying courts on Marines in Los Angeles [View all]

Source: Politico

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to say whether he would follow the courts if they ruled against President Donald Trump’s deployment of active-duty Marines to Los Angeles.

The Pentagon chief repeatedly deflected when asked Thursday at a House Armed Services Committee hearing whether he would respect a federal district or Supreme Court decision on the issue.

“What I can say is we should not have local judges determining foreign policy or national security policy for the country,” Hegseth said.

Trump has ordered the Pentagon to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in response to mass deportation protests. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has said the troops are not necessary, is suing to remove them.

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Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/12/hegseth-marines-los-angeles-00402794