Trump and Newsom Head for Showdown Over National Guard Deployment

Strategic Insights -

President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are on a collision course after a federal judge ruled that Trump's deployment of the National Guard to respond to anti-immigration enforcement protests and riots in Los Angeles was illegal. Despite the ruling, Trump's administration plans to continue deploying thousands of National Guard soldiers and hundreds of Marines in California, sparking a fierce legal battle between the two leaders. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has put the lower court's decision on hold, allowing the Trump administration to continue its deployment until a three-judge panel hears arguments on Tuesday.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Trump has activated the National Guard to respond to anti-immigration enforcement protests and riots in Los Angeles, despite a federal judge ruling that the deployment was illegal.
  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has put the lower court's decision on hold, allowing the Trump administration to continue deploying thousands of National Guard soldiers and hundreds of Marines in California.
  • The deployment is strictly for the protection of federal personnel and federal buildings, according to the Trump administration.
  • The decision by Judge Charles Breyer, a Clinton appointee, was met with skepticism by some, who argue that it oversteps the bounds of judicial authority.
  • The National Guard fight comes against the backdrop of Trump hosting a major military parade in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, which is expected to draw protests and demonstrations around the country.
  • The parade, which is slated to cost tens of millions of dollars, will showcase U.S. military power and commemorate the Army's 250th birthday.
  • Trump's critics have coined the day "No Kings Day" and are planning to voice their objections to the president's show of force at protests around the country on Saturday.

Statistics:

  • 3 judges will hear arguments on Tuesday regarding whether the court should grant a long-term stay on the deployment of National Guard soldiers: Judges Mark Bennett (Trump appointee), Eric Miller (Trump appointee), and Jennifer Sung (Biden appointee).
  • 10 USC 252, also known as the Insurrection Act, gives the president much freer authority to deploy military forces, according to a right-of-center former DOJ official, Ed Whelan.
  • The National Guard deployment in California involves thousands of soldiers and hundreds of Marines.
  • The event, slated to cost tens of millions of dollars, will showcase U.S. military power and commemorate the Army's 250th birthday.
  • Dozens of protests are expected to take place in California alone on "No Kings Day" to voice objections to the president's show of force.

Sources:

  • President Donald Trump, as cited in the article
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as cited in the article
  • Judge Charles Breyer, as cited in the article
  • Attorney Ed Whelan, as cited in the article
  • Contrarian on Substack, as cited in the article
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as cited in the article
  • Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys, as cited in the article
  • Title 10 of the United States Code, as cited in the article
  • Ezra Levin, as cited in the article
  • The Army, as cited in the article