Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came under fire after mistakenly citing a non-existent constitutional provision during criticism of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing riots. Pelosi referenced “Article 10, Section 12046” of the Constitution, claiming it prohibited the president from activating the National Guard without a governor’s consent. However, the U.S. Constitution only contains seven articles. Pelosi likely meant to reference Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which outlines the president’s authority to federalize National Guard troops. Legal experts clarified that Title 10 allows the president to do so without a governor’s consent—a power previously exercised by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the civil rights era. Critics noted that Pelosi’s interpretation contradicts established law and Supreme Court precedent.
Pelosi also repeated a claim that Trump refused to deploy the National Guard before the January 6 Capitol riot. However, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund rebutted this, explaining that legal constraints required Capitol Police Board approval—under the authority of congressional leadership—before any federal support could be requested. Meanwhile, a new RMG Research poll shows that 52% of voters approve of Trump’s decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles in response to riots sparked by ICE operations. Over 100 individuals have been arrested during the unrest. Additionally, 57% of respondents supported immigration officials’ efforts to locate and arrest undocumented immigrants in the city. The federal response included 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines.
