President Trump celebrated what he called a “Big Win” in his ongoing conflict with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday morning. Earlier this month, he had also emphasized federal support in response to protests linked to his immigration policies affecting the state’s National Guard.
A federal appeals court made a decision late Thursday, allowing the president to retain control over state security forces, at least for now.
“A significant victory over the president’s essential authority to deploy the National Guard at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals,” Trump stated in a post.
He further added, “The judges clearly recognized Gavin Newscam’s incompetence, but this issue goes beyond just him. If our city and its residents require protection, we can’t rely solely on local police to do that.”
Newsom contended that Trump’s action to deploy soldiers without consulting him was illegal, calling for an emergency order to prevent it. Initially, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, appointed by Clinton, had sided with California, but his emergency order was overturned on June 13 by the 9th Circuit.
A panel of three judges unanimously extended their unsigned suspension, with a decision released Thursday night.
“Our ruling highlights that we are solely addressing the facts before us. While we support the president’s ability to deploy the National Guard, we haven’t addressed the specifics of the activities they may engage in,” the Appeals Court noted.
The panel expressed that the court would not review the administration’s decision, yet acknowledged the need for cautious consideration.
“With respect to the president, we conclude it’s likely he has lawfully utilized his statutory authority,” the opinion read.
Reacting to Thursday’s ruling, Newsom asserted, “This fight isn’t over.”
He remarked, “The court rightly dismissed Trump’s assertion that he can operate without accountability regarding the National Guard. The president is not above the law.”
Newsom also stated, “We will continue to challenge President Trump’s authoritarian use of federal troops against citizens.”
The decision from the 9th Circuit represents a win for Trump in a legitimate dispute, although it might be temporary. Breyer is set to hold a hearing on Friday to determine whether an indefinite injunction should be issued.
In his earlier ruling, Breyer deemed the deployment of guards illegal, citing violations of the 10th Amendment, which delineates powers between federal and state governments, along with overstepping Trump’s statutory authority.
Breyer remarked, “The protests occurring in Los Angeles fall well short of being classified as a ‘rebellion.’ The right to protest the government is a fundamental right protected by the First Amendment; just because a few individuals misbehave doesn’t eliminate that right for everyone.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized the president, suggesting he was using soldiers as “props” in cities where they weren’t necessary.
She emphasized, “We must remember who the National Guard and Marines are—young men and women pulled from their homes, families, and education, doing nothing.”
