- An American Court of Appeal ruled Trump’s National Guard deployment in Los Angeles was legal.
- The ruling is a win for Trump in his ongoing political battle with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
- The court cited the violent actions of protesters as justification for the soldiers’ presence.
LOS ANGELES, 2025-06-20
The Court’s Verdict: Trump’s National Guard Deployment Stands
An appeals court sided with Trump, deeming his decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles during protests as legitimate, despite local opposition.
Was President Trump justified in deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles? An American Court of Appeal has determined that President Donald Trump’s decision to dispatch the National Guard to Los Angeles amid recent protests concerning his immigration policies was, in fact, legitimate. This means Trump maintains control over the National Guard, a military reserve force typically involved in managing major events or natural disasters.
The legal challenge originated with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposed the intervention of the soldiers. The deployment of the National Guard can be initiated by a single state or by the Federal Government. The court’s decision represents a victory for Trump, particularly in his ongoing conflicts with Governor Newsom, who is one of his main political rivals.
The Court of Appeal stated that the soldiers’ deployment was justified by the violent actions of the protesters. Although Trump did not notify the state government about the soldiers’ deployment beforehand, as required by law, the governor was deemed to lack the authority to prevent it. According to Newsom, sending the soldiers only escalated tensions and aggravated the protests. At first instance, a judge had canceled the Trump order, arguing that the protests’ disturbances did not warrant the soldiers’ deployment. The case could potentially reach the Supreme Court.
The court’s decision highlights the ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities regarding the use of military force in response to civil unrest.
