Trump Holds Emergency Meeting with Military Leaders at Camp David Amid Los Angeles Immigration Protests

President Donald Trump convened an emergency summit with senior military and Cabinet officials at Camp David on Sunday, as his administration faces mounting pressure over ongoing anti-immigration enforcement riots in Los Angeles. This high-level meeting underscores the gravity of the situation as violence and unrest continue to roil the city.

Addressing reporters before departure, Trump emphasized the significance of the discussions: "We’re going up to Camp David; we have meetings with various people about very major subjects. We’ll be meeting with a lot of people, including generals, as you know, and admirals." According to White House officials, this gathering marks the beginning of what is expected to become a routine off-site strategy session attended by both the President and Vice President.

Joining the president were Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These talks took place while Trump and Hegseth weigh whether to escalate the federal response by deploying U.S. Marines to assist the National Guard in quelling the widespread protests. Demonstrators have been rallying in opposition to recent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, actions that have drawn condemnation from advocacy groups and sparked days of unrest in Los Angeles.

Trump already authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to the area—an unusual move carried out without approval from California Governor Gavin Newsom. During the retreat, the president kept open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, which empowers the commander in chief to order the use of active-duty military forces to restore order in times of domestic chaos. While the act is rarely implemented, Trump signaled he is prepared to take any steps deemed necessary to bring the situation under control, stating that he had directed his Cabinet officials “to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.”

The scope of Camp David discussions extended beyond the domestic crisis. The president’s agenda this week is packed, with difficult trade negotiations with China commencing on Monday. Tensions are also flaring with prominent billionaire and former advisor Elon Musk, who has publicly criticized recent White House moves. In Congress, lawmakers are locked in debates over Trump’s proposed Big Beautiful Bill Act, a signature spending measure. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue with Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions, and the president is set to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations involving Hamas.

As Trump’s team wraps up at Camp David, all eyes remain on Washington for signals regarding the administration’s next steps in Los Angeles, where the balance between restoring order and protecting civil liberties continues to spark intense national debate.