By Rafiyat Sadiq
A United States federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump acted within his authority in deploying National Guard troops in California, rejecting a legal challenge from Governor Gavin Newsom.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by a unanimous three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
The ruling allows Trump’s administration to maintain control over 4,000 National Guard troops stationed in Los Angeles.
In a 38-page opinion, the judges concluded that Trump lawfully exercised his presidential powers when he activated the Guard for a 60-day period to protect federal personnel and property.
The court said, “Affording appropriate deference to the president’s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalising the National Guard.”
The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that a president ordered National Guard troops into service over a state governor’s objections.
Appeals Court Upholds Federal Authority
President Trump appointed two of the three judges on the panel, while the third was nominated by President Joe Biden, according to U.S. media.
Their decision reversed a lower court ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who had previously ordered Trump to return control of the Guard to the state government.
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, had argued that Trump’s order was illegal because it bypassed the requirement for deployment through the state governor.
However, the panel disagreed, writing that “the failure to issue the federalisation order directly ‘through’ the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard.”
The court emphasised that while Trump was within his rights to deploy the Guard, his actions remained subject to judicial review, rejecting claims of unchecked presidential authority.
Presidential Power Challenged in Court
Trump celebrated the ruling on his social media handle, calling it a “BIG WIN”.
Trump wrote on Thursday night, “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.”
Governor Newsom Responds, Plans to Fight On
Following the ruling, Governor Newsom responded defiantly, vowing to continue his legal challenge.
“Donald Trump is not a king and not above the law,” he posted on social media. “Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court.”
The panel left the door open for further legal scrutiny, noting that Newsom may still challenge the nature of the Guard’s activities under other statutes, including those restricting the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.
A new hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday in Judge Breyer’s court, where Newsom is expected to press his case further.
Source: Al Jazeera
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.