Court Temporarily Allows Trump to Retain Control of California National Guard

Los Angeles, June 20, 2025 — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that former President Donald Trump can temporarily maintain control over the California National Guard, a move that reignites tensions between federal and state powers during an ongoing legal battle with Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said it found sufficient reason to believe Trump acted within the bounds of his constitutional authority when he activated National Guard troops earlier this month in response to immigration-related protests in Los Angeles. The court issued a stay blocking the state’s attempt to revoke federal control of the Guard pending further review.

The decision allows roughly 4,000 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines deployed to downtown Los Angeles to remain under federal command — a flashpoint in an intensifying legal and political confrontation between Trump and the California state government.

Governor Newsom called the ruling “deeply troubling,” accusing the former president of using federal military assets as a political weapon. His administration is preparing a new round of legal filings challenging what it describes as “unconstitutional federal overreach.”

In contrast, Trump celebrated the court’s decision, calling it “a victory for law, order, and the American people,” during a rally in Nevada Friday evening. “We will not allow chaos to run our cities,” he said to a cheering crowd.

Background

Earlier this month, Trump invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 to deploy federal forces amid escalating anti-immigration demonstrations in several U.S. cities. Critics argue the use of the act was premature and politically motivated.

This marks the first time in modern U.S. history that a former president has attempted to exercise direct federal authority in a state without current executive powers — a legal gray area that constitutional scholars say could reshape interpretations of presidential powers in post-office political activity.

What’s Next

The Ninth Circuit will hear oral arguments in the coming weeks. A final decision could have significant implications for the balance of power between federal and state governments in times of civil unrest.

*This story will be updated as more information becomes available.