In a significant legal victory for President Donald Trump, a US appeals court has ruled that he retains authority over National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles, allowing for the continued presence of approximately 4,000 troops. This decision comes in stark opposition to a previous ruling issued by Lower Court Judge Charles Breyer, who had found Trump’s mobilization of the National Guard to be illegal, citing violations of established Congressional regulations on such actions.
The three-judge panel’s unanimous ruling on Thursday clarified that while Trump did not directly issue a federalization order through California Governor Gavin Newsom, it did not inhibit his lawful authority to deploy the National Guard. This court decision effectively overruled the lower court’s directive, which required the president to relinquish control of the California National Guard back to the state.
Reacting to the decision, Trump characterized it as a “big win” and took to social media to assert the urgent need for federal involvement in ensuring the safety and security of citizens. He emphasized the role of his administration in protecting federal resources and personnel during widespread protests against his immigration crackdown.
Critics of Trump’s deployment, including Governor Newsom, have voiced concerns over what they term an authoritarian use of military resources to suppress civil dissent. Newsom emphasized that the court’s ruling correctly challenged Trump’s assertion of unchecked power over the National Guard, arguing against an authoritarian interpretation of law where the president could act as if he were above judicial scrutiny.
The context for this military involvement has roots in Trump’s aggressive stance towards immigration enforcement, as the National Guard and approximately 700 Marines were sent to assist federal immigration officers in conducting raids. Critics, including local officials, labeled this move as a provocative act that escalated tensions in an already charged atmosphere of civil unrest.
This legal back-and-forth over the National Guard’s deployment marks a significant moment in Trump’s administration, drawing parallels to historical precedents when federal authority clashed with state governance, particularly noted during the civil rights movement.