U.S. District Judge has ordered former President Donald Trump to return control of the National Guard to California Governor Gavin Newsom, ruling that Trump’s decision to deploy the troops to Los Angeles during widespread protests against immigration raids was illegal.
Judge Charles Breyer stated that Trump’s move to federalize the California National Guard lacked legal justification, particularly in the absence of clear evidence of a rebellion or large-scale violence. He emphasized that the demonstrations were primarily peaceful and focused on opposition to immigration enforcement actions—activity that is protected under the First Amendment.
“The President is not a monarch,” Governor Newsom said in a scathing rebuke of Trump’s actions. “No president should exercise this kind of unchecked power.”
While the judge ordered the immediate return of command to the state government, he delayed the enforcement of his decision until midnight Friday (local time) to give the federal government time to respond.
The White House promptly filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to overturn Judge Breyer’s ruling.
The controversy stems from Trump’s move to override state authority by federalizing the National Guard in response to what he described as violent protests. This action was taken despite earlier objections from Governor Newsom, who insisted the situation did not warrant federal intervention.
Judge Breyer sided with Newsom, concluding there was no sufficient basis for the federalization of state troops and reaffirming the constitutional right of Americans to protest.
