In the heart of California, where the sun shines on both glamour and chaos, a legal drama has unfolded that’s grizzlier than a Los Angeles traffic jam at rush hour. It seems that some people with mighty pens and coveted offices have a bone to pick about President Trump’s use of the National Guard. The noise is coming from a ruling by a senior judge who seems to live in a world where reality is more of a suggestion than a guideline. This ruling alleges that the National Guard was unleashed on the sunny streets of L.A. to don the badge of law enforcement. But hold on to your surfboards, because that’s as far from the truth as an Oscar-winning performance by someone not named Meryl Streep.
For those tuning in late, let’s clear the fog. The National Guard wasn’t there for barbecues and beach patrols. Their mission was clear: protect federal property and personnel. When the streets became a chaotic dance floor for troublemakers enthusiastically released by California’s elite, it became necessary to call in reinforcements. Not as law enforcers, but as protectors. They were the proverbial big brothers, making sure federal agents could do their jobs without needing a spa day to recover afterward.
But in the game of politics, truth often takes a backseat to theatrics. The notion that one or two guardsmen might have been caught up in an incident or two isn’t exactly earth-shattering. If a National Guardsman found themselves in a sticky situation, they acted just like anyone would—defensively and out of necessity. There wasn’t an episode of GI Joe if that’s what some were imagining. Their presence was about protection, not parading around with handcuffs.
Enter stage right: California’s Attorney General, who appears to be as excited as a child on Christmas morning over the thought of reducing resources for public safety. He jubilantly announces that the National Guard and Marines are barred from engaging in any law enforcement activities in California. His interpretation sounds like a plot line inspired by the most imaginative Hollywood screenwriter rather than rooted in legal reality. Apparently, hysteria sells better than facts.
What’s truly bewildering is the parade of false narratives being played out with such flair that one might mistake it for a dramatic performance deserving of a golden statuette. There’s talk of invasions, snatching children away, and military interrogations in the smog-filled basin of L.A. But for those keeping score at home, these claims lack the substance of a zero-calorie diet. What’s next, tales of the National Guard auditioning for roles on Hollywood Boulevard? If nothing else, this saga serves as a reminder that in the world of politics, fiction will sometimes give truth a run for its money.
