Trump celebrates “BIG WIN” as court says he can keep National Guard in LA
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Donald Trump Celebrates Legal Win Over Deploying National Guard
President Donald Trump has celebrated a “BIG WIN” after a federal appeals court ruled that he can maintain control over California’s National Guard. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Trump to temporarily lift a lower court’s ruling that he had acted illegally. The court rejected arguments from California Governor Gavin Newsom that Trump violated federal law when he seized control of the state’s guard. It marked the first time since 1965 that a president deployed troops in a U.S. state without the consent of its governor. The move ignited a national debate over the domestic use of military force and sharply escalated political tensions in the nation’s second-most populous city. The ruling was issued in a lawsuit filed by the state of California against the Trump administration. The lawsuit said that Trump “invoked emergency powers to exceed the bounds of lawful executive authority,” adding that his deployment of the National Guard and Marines violated state sovereignty and federal laws that forbid federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement. The Trump administration has denied that troops were engaging in law enforcement, saying they were instead protecting federal buildings and personnel.
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President Donald Trump has celebrated a “BIG WIN” after a federal appeals court ruled that he can maintain control over thousands of members of California’s National Guard.
On Thursday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Trump to temporarily lift a lower court’s ruling that he had acted illegally when he federalized soldiers earlier this month to strengthen security in Los Angeles amid protests over his immigration policy.
The court rejected arguments from California Governor Gavin Newsom that Trump violated federal law when he seized control of the state’s guard.
“BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
California National Guard members stand in formation during a protest in Los Angeles earlier this month. California National Guard members stand in formation during a protest in Los Angeles earlier this month. DAVID PASHAEE/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
Why It Matters
On June 7, President Trump took control of California’s National Guard and deployed approximately 4,000 troops to Los Angeles in response to widespread protests and unrest over his immigration policies. He also ordered an additional 700 U.S. Marines into the city.
The move ignited a national debate over the domestic use of military force and sharply escalated political tensions in the nation’s second-most populous city. It marked the first time since 1965 that a president deployed troops in a U.S. state without the consent of its governor.
What To Know
In its decision on Thursday, the three-judge panel unanimously concluded that it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing control of California’s National Guard.
It said that while presidents do not have unfettered power to seize control of a state’s guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters.
The court has yet to issue a ruling on the legality of the deployment of the Marines.
The ruling was issued in a lawsuit filed by the state of California against the Trump administration. The lawsuit said that Trump “invoked emergency powers to exceed the bounds of lawful executive authority.”
It added that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines violated the state’s sovereignty and U.S. laws that forbid federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement.
The Trump administration has denied that troops were engaging in law enforcement, saying they were instead protecting federal buildings and personnel, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Newsom won an early victory in the case after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled earlier this month that Trump had overstepped his legal authority. He said that presidents could only take control of a state’s National Guard during times of “rebellion or danger of a rebellion.”
“The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion,'” wrote Breyer.
The law allows a president to federalize state National Guard troops under three conditions: in the event of an invasion, a rebellion or threat of rebellion, or when regular federal forces are unable to enforce the law.
The federal appeals court ruled that the third condition was likely met during the unrest in Los Angeles, citing violent actions by protesters — including throwing objects at immigration vehicles, using dumpsters as battering rams, deploying Molotov cocktails, and damaging property.
While the Justice Department argued that the president’s emergency declaration could not be challenged by courts or state governors, the appeals court rejected that claim, asserting that such decisions are subject to judicial review.
Two judges on the appeals panel were appointed by Trump during his first term.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: “The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.
“This is a Great Decision for our Country, and we will continue to protect and defend Law abiding Americans. Congratulations to the Ninth Circuit, America is proud of you tonight!”
Gavin Newsom vowed to pursue his challenge after Thursday’s ruling. “The president is not a king and is not above the law,” he said. “We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against our citizens.”
The court wrote: “The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects’ at the officers. Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van’s windows. The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.”
What Happens Next
California could appeal the decision to a full panel of the federal appeals court, or the Supreme Court.
US appeals court allows Trump to keep control of National Guard in Los Angeles
US appeals court allows Trump to keep control of National Guard in Los Angeles. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found the president acted illegally in doing so. The National Guard deployment was the first by a US president without the governor’s permission since 1965. Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “big win’ The court case could have broader implications on the president’S power to deploy soldiers within the US after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritise deportations from other Democratic-run cities. The protests have since appeared to be winding down. The court also found that even if the federal government failed to notify California Governor Gavin Newsom before federalising the National Guard as required by law, he had no power to veto the president’s order.
US appeals court allows Trump to keep control of National Guard in Los Angeles
A US appeals court has allowed President Donald Trump to maintain control of the National Guard in Los Angeles, following a challenge to their deployment by the state’s governor.
Trump called in the troops following protests over immigration raids. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found the president acted illegally in doing so.
The National Guard deployment was the first by a US president without the governor’s permission since 1965.
In its decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalising control of the guard.
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It said that while presidents don’t have unfettered power to seize control of a state’s guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters.
“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects’ at the officers,” the court wrote in an explanation of its decision.
“Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van’s windows,” the court added. “The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.”
It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify California Governor Gavin Newsom before federalising the National Guard as required by law, he had no power to veto the president’s order.
A question of authority?
Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “big win.”
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He wrote that “all over the United States, if our cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should state and local police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.”
Newsom issued a statement expressing disappointment that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of the National Guard. But he also welcomed one aspect of the decision.
“The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” Newsom said. ”
The president is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens.”
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The court case could have broader implications on the president’s power to deploy soldiers within the US after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritise deportations from other Democratic-run cities.
Trump argued that the troops were necessary to restore order. Newsom said the move inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The protests have since appeared to be winding down.
US court lets Trump keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles
An appeals court on Thursday allowed US President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids. A lower court judge had found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
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The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governor’s permission since 1965.
In its decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalising control of the guard.
National Guard troops outside a complex of federal buildings in Santa Ana, California. Photo: Reuters
It said that while presidents do not have unfettered power to seize control of a state’s guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters.
US court allows Trump to retain control of National Guard – DW – 06
The court said that while Trump did not have unlimited powers to take over California’s guard, his administration had a rationale to do so. The ruling halts the decision of a lower court last week that ordered Trump to return the control of California’s National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has criticized Trump’s decision to send in troops to quell anti-immigration protests, calling it an authoritarian move. Trump hailed the ruling as a “great decision” and a “BIG WIN,” while misspelling Newsom’s name and calling him incompetent.
A US appeals court on Thursday ruled that US President Donald Trump can continue his control over National Guard troops in Los Angeles for now, despite objections from the state’s governor.
In a unanimous ruling, a three-judge bench said that Trump’s “failure to issue the federalization order directly ‘through’ the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard.”
Court says there was defensible rationale for deployment
The 38-page document said that while a president did not have unchecked power to take over a state’s guard, Trump’s administration had presented enough defensible rationale for doing so.
It added that the president was within his rights when he mobilized 4,000 members of the national guard into service for 60 days to protect “federal personnel performing federal functions” and to protect federal property.
The ruling halts the decision of a lower court last week that ordered Trump to return the control of California’s National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has criticized Trump’s decision to send in troops to LA to quell anti-immigration protests, calling it an authoritarian move.
Trump also sent 700 US marines to LA despite objections from local authorities as he claimed they had lost control of the city.
Trump military parade met with ‘No Kings’ rallies across US To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Trump celebrates ‘big win’
The US President took to his social media platform and said: “All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.”
He hailed the ruling as a “great decision” and a “BIG WIN,” while misspelling Newsom’s name and calling him incompetent.
Meanwhile, Newsom took to X, focusing on the portion of the ruling which said the US President’s powers were not unfettered. “Donald Trump is not a king and not above the law,” he wrote.
“Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court. We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.”
Edited by: Kieran Burke
Trump celebrates ‘big win’ as US court allows National Guard deployment in Los Angeles
A US appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump could continue control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles. A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom. But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days. The state of California had argued that Trump’s order was illegal because it did not follow the procedure of being issued through the governor. Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a “BIG WIN’’ Governor Newsom responded to the decision saying Trump “is not a king and not above the law”. The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Trump’s immigration crackdown across the United States.
Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles this month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps — a move opposed by city leaders and Newsom.
A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, saying the president’s decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles was “illegal.”
But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days to “protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property.”
“Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalising the National Guard,” they said in their 38-page ruling.
Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a “BIG WIN.”
“All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done,” Trump wrote.
Members of the California National Guard are deployed outside a complex of federal buildings in Santa Ana, California June, 18, 2025. — Reuters pic
‘Not a king’
The state of California had argued that Trump’s order was illegal because it did not follow the procedure of being issued through the governor.
The judges said Trump’s “failure to issue the federalisation order directly ‘through’ the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard.”
But the panel said it disagreed with the defendants’ primary argument that the president’s decision to federalise members of the California National Guard “is completely insulated from judicial review.”
Governor Newsom responded to the decision saying Trump “is not a king and not above the law.”
“Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,” he posted on X.
“We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.”
Newsom added in a separate post on his personal X account “the fight doesn’t end here”, adding “we will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens.”
The state could request the case to be reheard, or it could petition the Supreme Court for intervention.
People protest against federal immigration sweeps, during the Juneteenth holiday in New York City June 19, 2025. — Reuters pic
Immigration tensions
The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Trump’s immigration crackdown across the United States.
The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks, ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces.
Local media reported further raids across the city yesterday targeting Home Depot stores, a home improvement retailer where day labourers often gather in parking lots seeking work.
The protests, though largely peaceful, saw sporadic and spectacular violence. Damage included vandalism, looting, clashes with law enforcement and several torched driverless taxis.
Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, also sent 700 US Marines to Los Angeles despite the objections of local officials, claiming that they had lost control of the “burning” city.
It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard over the wishes of a state governor.
Trump appointed two of the judges on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit panel, and former president Joe Biden appointed the third, the New York Times reported yesterday. — AFP
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/20/la-protests-military-appeals-court