Maine’s members of Congress split on Trump deploying National Guard, Marines to protests

Maine’s congressional delegation have varying stances on President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard and Marines to quell protests over the administration’s workplace immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree called the move an abuse of power. Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King said it doesn’t appear justified. 

Maine’s other Democratic representative, Jared Golden, and Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins did not condemn the deployment of troops. Collins called it an appropriate use of the National Guard, but not the Marines or other active duty military personnel. 

“The National Guard often responds to domestic emergencies and is well-trained to do so,” Collins said in a statement. “The Marines should only be involved in domestic disturbances in the most extreme emergencies.”

The legality of the deployment is currently being debated in court. 

This is the first time a president has activated a state’s National Guard since 1965 without a request from a governor — something Gov. Janet Mills and other Democratic governors condemned in a joint statement. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued Trump over the deployment, arguing it is a violation of state sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he endorsed the idea of White House border czar Tom Homan arresting Newsom.

Trump later deployed Marines on Monday. The city’s police chief has warned that without coordination the Marines’ arrival could cause operational challenges and stated that local law enforcement remain confident in their ability to handle large-scale demonstrations.  

Pingree offered the most pointed critique, saying what’s happening in California should alarm everyone.

“The President is manufacturing a crisis to deliberately inflame tensions in one of America’s largest cities,” Pingree said in a statement to Maine Morning Star. “It’s a flagrant abuse of power, egregious federal overreach, and a chilling attempt to turn our military into a political weapon.”

Pingree also pointed to the Pentagon’s estimate that the mobilization has already cost taxpayers $134 million. Further, the representative condemned the sweeps being carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

“The people of Los Angeles are seeing their neighbors being swept up in unprecedented ICE raids, meant to fill quotas rather than make our communities safer,” Pingree said. “These aren’t violent criminals. They’re workers waiting for jobs and families going home from church, who are suddenly being detained and deported without a shred of due process.”

King stopped short of labeling the deployment as overreach but said that he does not believe the preconditions of the underlying statute Trump cited in justifying his federalization of the National Guard, 10 U.S.C. 12406, have been met. 

These include an invasion or threat of invasion, rebellion or danger of rebellion and that the president is unable to execute the law with regular forces. 

“There has been no evidence of any invasion or rebellion,” King said. “And while a protest could have some impermissible violent actions, it does not constitute a rebellion. Equally important, the history of the use of these provisions has been very rare, and almost always, at the request [of] the governor of the state. To send in the National Guard over the objection of the governor of the state is almost unheard of and certainly doesn’t appear justified in this case.”

King also made a point to state that he does not “in any way condone violence or property damage by the people who are protesting,” but believes the response should be proportional and the use of military personnel should be a last resort.

Collins and Golden focused on the protesters in comments about what’s happening in Los Angeles. 

While Trump and his allies have called the protesters “insurrectionists,” officials in California have called Trump’s response an overreaction to mostly peaceful demonstrations.

Spokesperson Mario Moretto pointed to Golden’s comments on social media in response to a request about his stance, in which the representative wrote, “I encourage demonstrators to exercise their rights peacefully and lawfully, and my expectation is that members of the armed services on the ground will support local law enforcement with the discipline and professionalism that is the bedrock of our military community.”

While not stating whether he supports the deployment of the National Guard or Marines, Golden, who served in the Marine Corps, said he rejects Trump’s strategy of “they spit, we hit,” referring to the president’s comment threatening protestors of physical harm if they spit on police or troops.

Meanwhile Collins shared in a statement to Maine Morning Star, “Violence, threats, and the destruction of property are not acceptable forms of protest.” 

Collins added that she believes it’s important for federal, state, and local leaders to coordinate their response to the demonstrations. “Our law enforcement personnel who are on the ground dealing with this dangerous situation need clear direction and support,” Collins said.