- Federal court ruled Trump acted lawfully in deploying National Guard to LA.
- Newsom condemns the decision, calling it authoritarian overreach.
- Ruling sets precedent for federalizing state troops without governor’s consent.
A federal appeals court has ruled that former President Donald Trump acted within his legal authority when he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid violent anti-ICE protests, despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Governor Newsom sharply criticized the ruling, arguing it undermines state sovereignty and encourages future misuse of military power against civilians.
Court Sides With Trump on LA Troop Deployment; Newsom Calls It Power Abuse
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court’s decision, concluding that Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard was legally justified in response to escalating violence during protests. The court stressed that although federal notification requirements to the governor were unmet, they did not invalidate the President’s authority.
This marks the first instance since 1965 that a president has federalized a state’s National Guard without consent from the state’s governor. Legal scholars say the ruling could significantly shift the balance of power between federal and state governments during times of civil unrest.
Newsom responded forcefully, warning that the decision opens the door to unilateral military intervention by future presidents. He argued that Trump’s move intensified tensions on the ground rather than calming them, accusing the former president of exploiting unrest for political optics.
Supporters of Trump say the court’s decision affirms strong leadership during times of national disorder. They point to the urgency of protecting federal property and personnel as justification for bypassing procedural norms.
As the legal dust settles, Newsom’s resistance signals an ongoing clash over executive power, highlighting how partisan divides continue to shape interpretations of constitutional authority.
“The President is not a king.” — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (2019 ruling on executive authority)
