NOTE: VIDEO BELOW
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi came under fire this week after she inaccurately cited a non-existent section of the U.S. Constitution while criticizing former President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops to Los Angeles.
In remarks made during a televised interview, Pelosi claimed that Trump’s deployment of National Guard and Marine units amid violent protests violated “Article 10” of the Constitution—a provision that does not exist. Legal analysts quickly pointed out that the U.S. Constitution only contains seven articles, and that Pelosi likely meant to reference Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which governs the federal military and outlines the president’s authority over the National Guard.
Contrary to Pelosi’s claim that gubernatorial approval is required before federalizing the Guard, legal experts clarified that under Title 10, the president can act unilaterally in certain situations involving national security or public safety. Historical examples include President Lyndon B. Johnson’s deployment of troops to enforce desegregation orders in the 1960s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJvaHtGaVy4
Pelosi also repeated a long-standing assertion that she and others had urged Trump to call in the National Guard ahead of the January 6 Capitol unrest. However, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund has publicly contradicted this claim, stating that the Capitol Police Board—which operated under Pelosi’s leadership and that of then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell—had to approve any such request, and did not.
For his part, Trump has consistently maintained that he offered National Guard support before the events of January 6 but was turned down by Congressional security officials.
Public sentiment appears to favor Trump’s recent decisions regarding troop deployment in Los Angeles. A new poll shows that 52% of Americans support the move, which aimed to protect federal buildings and personnel after riots erupted following ICE operations in the city.
In response to the escalating violence, Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members, later reinforced with an additional 2,000 troops and 700 Marines. The military presence led to over 100 arrests as law enforcement regained control of several affected areas.
Pelosi’s misstatement about the Constitution has drawn criticism not only for its inaccuracy but also for the apparent lack of pushback from fellow Democratic leaders, many of whom nodded in agreement during her remarks.
