As the situation worsened, Trump doubled troop numbers and authorized the deployment of 700 Marines—raising legal questions under the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian law enforcement.

The federal response marks a significant escalation and tests the limits of presidential power, state-federal cooperation, and the role of the military in managing domestic unrest. Legal observers are watching closely to see if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act next.