Hegseth won’t commit to obeying courts on Marines in Los Angeles

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“The article describes the controversy surrounding the Trump administration's plan to deploy troops to Los Angeles to support immigration enforcement. The Defense Secretary initially suggested that the administration would not obey a Supreme Court ruling against the deployment, but later clarified that the administration would obey a Supreme Court ruling.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that he would obey a Supreme Court order to remove troops from Los Angeles but declined to show similar deference to other courts considering the issue.

But the Defense secretary later clarified that he would obey a decision from the high court.

“We’re not here to defy a Supreme Court ruling,” he said.

The comments mirror other officials who have criticized court rulings that go against the Trump administration, often directing withering criticism at lower-court judges while vowing deference to the justices.

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.

The Trump administration, in a filing Wednesday, urged a federal judge to reject the lawsuit, calling it a “crass political stunt.”

The matter is pending before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who has an emergency hearing scheduled Thursday afternoon. Breyer declined Newsom’s request to immediately block Hegseth from using troops to support immigration arrests in Los Angeles.

The issue marked a flashpoint during the third budget hearing this week for Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, which ranged from Ukraine aid to Hegseth’s efforts to root out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the department.“