Trump celebrates ‘big win’ as court affirms his troop deployment powers in Los Angeles
San Francisco: A US federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump acted within his legal authority when he federalised the National Guard and deployed troops to Los Angeles, despite strong opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In a unanimous 38-page decision released on Thursday, the three-judge panel affirmed that Trump’s decision to activate 4,000 National Guard troops for 60 days to “protect federal personnel and property” was legally justified. The ruling marks a significant legal victory for the president in a politically fraught battle with state officials.
The deployment, which took place earlier this month, came in response to widespread protests against federal immigration raids in California -- particularly in Los Angeles, which has been at the epicentre of recent tensions. City leaders and Newsom had opposed the move, calling it an overreach of federal power.
However, the court concluded that Trump was entitled to act under existing federal law. “Affording appropriate deference to the President’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalising the National Guard,” the panel wrote.
They rejected California’s argument that the federalisation order was invalid because it had not been issued “through” the governor. “The President’s failure to issue the order directly through Governor Newsom does not strip him of his lawful authority,” the judges said.
Nonetheless, the panel pushed back against the federal government’s broader claim that the president’s actions were beyond judicial scrutiny. “We disagree with the notion that the president’s decision is entirely insulated from judicial review,” the ruling added.
Trump celebrated the outcome in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, 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,” he wrote.
Governor Newsom sharply criticised the ruling, saying it set a dangerous precedent. “Trump is not a king and not above the law,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked.”
California may yet seek to challenge the ruling by requesting a rehearing or appealing to the Supreme Court.
Unrest in Los Angeles
The decision comes amid rising unrest in Los Angeles, which has been rocked by protests over aggressive federal immigration enforcement. While largely peaceful, some demonstrations have turned violent, with reports of looting, vandalism, and the torching of several autonomous taxis.
Local media reported fresh immigration raids across Los Angeles on Thursday, including at several Home Depot branches, where day labourers frequently gather seeking employment.
Last week, a lower court judge had sided with Newsom, ordering Trump to relinquish control of the National Guard in the state. That ruling has now been overturned.
It is the first time since 1965 that a sitting US president has federalised a state’s National Guard over the explicit objection of its governor. The Ninth Circuit panel that issued Thursday’s ruling included two Trump appointees and one judge appointed by President Joe Biden, according to The New York Times.