President Donald Trump just notched a decisive victory over California’s progressive darling, Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a high-stakes battle for control of the National Guard.
Fox News reported that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Trump’s authority to command National Guard troops in Los Angeles, overturning a lower court’s order that would have handed control back to Newsom.
The decision marks a rare federalization of state troops without a governor’s consent, unseen since 1965. It’s a sharp rebuke to California’s leadership, which argued the move was an overreach.
The court’s ruling came after Newsom sued Trump, claiming the president’s deployment of the Guard during the Los Angeles riots was unlawful.
Troops hit the streets on June 8, 2025, following protests sparked by an immigration raid. Newsom’s legal gambit insisted he alone should control California’s forces, but the court disagreed, citing federal law.
The Ninth Circuit’s filing was crystal clear: Trump’s decision to federalize the Guard under 10 U.S.C. § 12406 was likely lawful. “We conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority,” the court stated, brushing aside Newsom’s pleas for state supremacy. This deference to presidential power is a bitter pill for progressives who champion local control—until it suits them otherwise.
Newsom argued Trump’s move was immune from judicial review, a claim the court swiftly rejected. The judges affirmed that while the president holds broad authority, it’s not a blank check. Yet, in this case, Trump’s actions passed muster, leaving Newsom’s objections in the dust.
Even Newsom’s point about Trump failing to notify him before deployment didn’t sway the court. The law requires such notice, but the judges ruled Newsom had no veto power over the president’s order. It’s a stark reminder that federal authority trumps state posturing, no matter how loudly Sacramento protests.
Trump didn’t waste time crowing about the win on Truth Social Thursday night. “BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard!” he posted, slamming Newsom as “incompetent and ill-prepared.” The president framed the ruling as a victory for law-abiding Americans, though his glee at besting Newsom was unmistakable.
The court’s decision bolsters Trump’s ability to deploy the Guard nationwide, especially in cities where local police struggle.
Progressives may cry foul, but the ruling ensures the federal government can step in when chaos overwhelms state resources. It’s a pragmatic move, even if it ruffles feathers in blue-state capitals.
Los Angeles saw the Guard’s muscle in action June 12, 2025, when troops assisted the FBI in arresting Alejandro Orellana, accused of supplying masks to rioters in a coordinated plot.
The operation underscored the Guard’s role in restoring order amid escalating tensions. Newsom’s push to reclaim control seems more about optics than operational necessity.
The federalization of state troops without gubernatorial approval is a bold flex of presidential muscle, last seen in 1965. Back then, it was about enforcing civil rights; today, it’s about quelling urban unrest.
The contrast highlights how far the political landscape has shifted, with Trump wielding power to counter what he sees as progressive-enabled disorder.
Newsom’s lawsuit painted Trump as a tyrant overstepping his bounds, but the court’s ruling exposes the governor’s argument as more performative than principled. California’s leader wanted to flex his authority, yet the law sided with the White House. It’s a humbling moment for a governor often seen as auditioning for higher office.
The Ninth Circuit’s reasoning leaned heavily on the president’s duty to execute federal laws when regular forces fall short.
This statutory backing gives Trump a green light to act decisively, even if it means bypassing governors who prioritize politics over public safety. Newsom’s wounded pride won’t change the legal reality.
Thursday’s ruling sets a precedent that could reshape federal-state dynamics in times of crisis. Governors like Newsom may bristle, but the court made clear: when the nation’s laws are at stake, the president holds the reins. It’s a win for those who believe strong leadership trumps bureaucratic turf wars.
