Federal Judge Rules Against Trump’s National Guard Federalization in California
On June 12, 2025, a federal judge delivered a significant blow to President Donald Trump, ruling that his federalization of thousands of California National Guard members was unlawful. US District Judge Charles Breyer ordered Trump to return control of the troops to California, marking a victory for Governor Gavin Newsom, who sued Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this week. The dispute arose after Trump deployed the Guard to quell anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, sparked by his stringent immigration policies.
Breyer’s 36-page ruling stated that Trump’s actions exceeded his statutory authority and violated the Tenth Amendment. “His actions were illegal,” Breyer wrote, mandating immediate return of Guard control to Newsom. The ruling is paused until noon on June 13, 2025, pending a Justice Department appeal. Newsom hailed the decision as a triumph for democracy, declaring at a Thursday news conference, “Today is a big day for the Constitution.” He emphasized that “the president works under the Constitution” and expressed hope for a “new day” of resistance against authoritarian overreach.
Newsom’s response was sharp. On X, he wrote, “The court confirmed: The military belongs on the battlefield, not our city streets,” urging Trump to end Los Angeles’ “unnecessary militarization.” He warned that continued defiance would expose Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies.” At a press conference, Newsom called Trump’s planned military parade on his birthday a “vulgar display of weakness,” likening it to events staged by “weak dictators.” He added, “Today was a test of democracy, and we the people passed.”
The ruling underscores tensions between Trump’s federal authority and state autonomy, particularly in California, a Democratic stronghold. Newsom’s lawsuit challenged Trump’s response to Los Angeles protests, which saw clashes over immigration enforcement. The governor’s rhetoric, framing the parade as an “embarrassment” and Trump’s actions as overreach, fuels debate over executive power and militarization. As the Justice Department appeals, the nation watches whether this marks a turning point in curbing Trump’s policies or escalates federal-state conflicts.
