Trump and Newsom Clash Over National Guard Deployment

President Trump's decision to deploy the California National Guard to Los Angeles against Governor Gavin Newsom's wishes has sparked a legal battle over presidential authority. The Trump administration invoked a statute allowing the president to federalize a state militia when there is a rebellion against governmental authority, citing the need to protect immigration agents from protesters. California argued that the deployment was an abuse of presidential authority and that local law enforcement could handle the protests. A federal district court judge initially ruled in favor of California, ordering the return of the National Guard to state control, but an appeals court blocked this decision. The appeals court ultimately ruled that Trump was likely within his authority to federalize the National Guard, but also established that courts have the power to review the president's determination. California may appeal the decision or focus on its separate argument that federal troops should not be used for law enforcement duties.

A US appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump can maintain control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles, despite objections from city leaders and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who argued the deployment was unnecessary and an overreach of Trump's authority. The court's decision allows the continued deployment of around 4,000 troops, who were sent to protect federal personnel and property during immigration raids. Trump hailed the ruling as a "big win," while Newsom said the court "rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard."

The Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles led to protests and the deployment of federal forces, including Marines, to the city. Despite Trump's narrative of "lawlessness" and "invasion" by undocumented immigrants, the raids largely targeted individuals without criminal records. The protests, while intense, were largely contained by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the National Guard and Marines were limited in their role. Trump's actions were seen as a staged production, leveraging images of chaos to justify his policies and appeal to his base. California Governor Gavin Newsom described the situation as "Kabuki," highlighting the disconnect between the reality on the ground and Trump's narrative. The episode is likely to be a precursor to further confrontations between the Trump administration and Democratic-run cities over immigration and law enforcement.