Trump Takes Control: Appeals Court Greenlights National Guard Deployment in L.A. Protests
Court grants Trump permission to dispatch National Guard in Los Angeles
In a surprising turn of events, President Trump has been given the green light to continue deploying the National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles, as a federal appeals court overturns a previous ruling. The New York Times reports this development.
The federal appeals court, with a three-judge panel, has argued that the circumstances in Los Angeles were severe enough for the President to seize control of the California National Guard. The Guard's deployment was deemed legitimate to uphold federal immigration laws.
This decision, made on June 19, 2025, sets aside a temporary restraining order issued by Judge Charles Breyer, aiming to return control of the National Guard to California Governor Gavin Newsom. The court observed that while presidential power over the Guard isn't boundless, there was evidence of protests and related violence disrupting the execution of federal law.
The judges, appointed by both Trump and former President Joe Biden, disagreed with Judge Breyer's assertion that the protests weren't intense enough to justify enforcement of the law Trump invoked. Around 4,000 National Guard troops had been deployed to Los Angeles under Trump's order.
The court stated, "Upon careful deliberation, we find that the President likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard."
The legal battle, however, persists, as the court's ruling allows the federalization of California National Guard troops to remain active. Governor Newsom may opt to request a larger panel from the appeals court or appeal to the Supreme Court. Further district court proceedings are anticipated regarding a long-term block of the Guard and Marines deployed by Trump.
President Trump hailed the appellate court's decision as a significant victory for his administration's attempt to curb protests against federal immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, which involved the deployment of hundreds of Marines and thousands of National Guard troops without California's approval. The Pentagon affirmed that the military would refrain from conducting law enforcement duties during the protests.
To put it simply, the federal appeals court decision validates the president's extensive but reviewable authority to federalize the National Guard in response to perceived civil unrest hindering federal law enforcement, despite resistance and legal challenges from California [1][2].
[1] Times, N. Y. (2025, June 19). Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump to Keep National Guard Troops in Los Angeles Amid Protests. The New York Times.
[2] Associated Press. (2025, June 19). Federal Appeals Court Upholds Trump's Deployment of National Guard Troops to Los Angeles. The Washington Post.
[3] NBC News. (2025, June 19). Federal Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Keep National Guard Troops in California Amid Protests. NBC News.
I'm not going to be here for the continuation of the legal battle, as the federal appeals court ruling had given President Trump the authority to keep National Guard troops in Los Angeles during war-and-conflicts-related protests. The ongoing politics surrounding the matter, involving debates about presidential power and the execution of federal laws, are featured prominently in general-news reports.
