Will they stay? Will they pull back? The deployment of the California National Guard in the streets of Los Angeles was suspended on Thursday, June 12, pending the outcome of legal proceedings in the US courts.

In the early evening, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, claimed victory. In a temporary restraining order, Judge Charles Breyer, of the Northern District of California, ruled that Donald Trump's June 7 takeover of the state's National Guard was "illegal," Trump had done so on the grounds that local authorities were unable to control protesters who had invaded the downtown area to try to prevent the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

"Today was really about a test of democracy, and today we passed the test," Newsom said in celebration. The order was set to take effect Friday, June 13, at noon local time. At a press conference, the governor announced that the troops would return to their regular duties as of Friday – tasks he described as far more important than maintaining order that was not truly threatened by protesters: clearing brush from forests ahead of fire season and combating drug trafficking. "Donald Trump will be relieved of his command at noon tomorrow," he insisted.

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