California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is seeking an injunction to block the Trump administration from federalizing the National Guard through Election Day.
Newsom, an early contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, filed the request for the preliminary injunction soon after U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer on Tuesday ruled that President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to the streets of Los Angeles violated federal law and turned nearly 5,000 soldiers into a national police force.
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The Trump administration appealed Breyer’s ruling on Wednesday. It marks the second time the administration has appealed a ruling from Breyer involving Newsom to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The governor has not responded to the latest development, but had plenty to say about the administration’s intent on keeping troops through Election Day.
Most National Guard soldiers were released from service in early August, but Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth extended the deployment of 300 National Guard members in the city to continue executing their “federal protective mission” through at least Election Day this November, when Newsom is asking voters to approve a new congressional district map that would favor Democrats.
“The timing of Trump’s extension of the National Guard soldiers isn’t coincidental – he’s holding onto soldiers through Election Day,” Newsom said. “There was never a need and there is not a need now for soldiers to be deployed against their communities. The federal government hasn’t even tried to justify keeping the military in Los Angeles because they can’t. The reality is this – they want to continue their intimidation tactics to scare Californians into submission.”
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California’s latest legal action comes after Trump threatened Los Angeles with another unwelcome military deployment during his remarks at the White House on Tuesday.
“[Newsom] didn’t want us there, and he’s going to need us again, because it’s starting to form again,” Trump said without providing proof. “I see it… It’s starting to form again. You know, we have to maintain. It’s like maintenance on an airplane, you can buy it, but you have to maintain it.”
Newsom, who hasn’t been shy about pushing back against Trump, posted on social media that “California refuses to be scared … by the small men in the White House.”
“No one in their right mind thinks the Trump Administration should launch yet another failed L.A. militarization,” he added.
Newsom also reposted a picture of troops sleeping on the floor during the height of Trump’s military deployment in the city.
“So you can have them sleep on the floor again? We’re good,” Newsom said.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) largely echoed the sentiments.
“The Trump Administration continues to hold our National Guard servicemembers hostage as part of an unprecedented attempt to militarize American streets,” Bonta said. “The initial federalization and deployment of these troops was unjustified – their redeployment for an additional 90 days is absurd. We’re asking the court to block implementation of this latest order, and we are confident that given the facts – or lack thereof – underpinning this order, the court will agree.”
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Hours after a federal court in California ruled against Trump’s use of the National Guard in Los Angeles, he touted his use of them in D.C. and said he would soon send troops into Chicago.
“We’re going in,” Trump said about sending the National Guard to the Windy City. “I’m so very proud of Washington. It serves as the template.”