Marine head says troops won’t engage with rioters in LA without proper training

Published June 11, 2025 2:13pm ET



Marine Commandant Eric Smith told Congress that the Marines deployed to Los Angeles to help quell the riots wouldn’t engage with rioters without proper crowd control training.

Smith appeared on Wednesday alongside Navy Secretary John Phelan and other military heads in front of the House Armed Services Committee. Democrats on the committee pressed Smith on the deployment of about 700 Marines to Los Angeles.

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