A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that former President Donald Trump acted lawfully when he deployed thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier this month, rejecting objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials.
The decision from a unanimous three-judge panel allows Trump to retain federal control of the California National Guard troops, who were activated amid protests sparked by recent federal immigration raids across the state. Trump had ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard members and hundreds of Marines to support federal personnel and protect federal property.
The court found that the former president’s actions fell within his constitutional authority, reversing a lower court’s ruling that had ordered control of the Guard be returned to Governor Newsom.
“Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard,” the panel wrote in its 38-page decision.
The ruling stated that Trump was authorized to federalize the Guard for a period of 60 days in order to “protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property.” California officials had argued that the order was illegal because it did not go through the governor.
The judges dismissed that argument.
“The President’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,” the ruling said.
However, the court pushed back on Trump’s broader legal claim that such presidential actions are beyond the reach of the judiciary.
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The panel said it disagreed with the argument that the president’s decision to federalize members of the National Guard “is completely insulated from judicial review.”
Trump celebrated the decision Thursday evening, posting on Truth Social:
“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.”
Governor Newsom responded sharply on social media, accusing Trump of abusing presidential powers.
“Trump is not a king and not above the law,” Newsom posted on X.
“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.”
In a follow-up post on his personal X account, Newsom added:
“The fight doesn’t end here. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens.”
The state of California may now request a rehearing or appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The deployment, made in response to widespread demonstrations and unrest following federal immigration enforcement actions, has sparked controversy across California, with city officials and civil rights groups calling the move an escalation and a threat to civil liberties.
This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal debate over federal authority and the limits of presidential power in domestic military deployments.