California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday (June 9) that the state is suing the Trump administration. Newsom claims that President Donald Trump illegally federalized the National Guard to confront protesters in Los Angeles. The protests erupted over the weekend in response to federal immigration enforcement actions, including raids and arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
President Trump signed a memorandum on Saturday, deploying approximately 300 California National Guard members to Los Angeles. The order could potentially involve up to 2,000 National Guard personnel for 60 days. According to Axios, Newsom argued that Trump's actions were an unnecessary escalation and accused the president of "flaming the fires" of unrest.
In a post on social media, Newsom stated that the memorandum allows Trump to deploy the National Guard in any state without the governor's consent, which he considers both illegal and immoral. Newsom described Trump's actions as a preview of potential future federal interventions.
The White House responded by criticizing Newsom's leadership, blaming him for the violence in Los Angeles. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson accused Newsom of filing "baseless lawsuits" for political gain.
As tensions continue, the legal battle between California and the Trump administration is expected to unfold in federal court. Newsom, who is term-limited, is widely speculated to be considering a run for the White House in the 2028 presidential election. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for federal and state relations concerning the deployment of military forces during civil unrest.