Newsom claims Trump's guard control despite courts

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an official statement that he was disappointed with the Ninth Circuit's decision to allow President Trump to retain control of the California National Guard, but was touting one aspect of the court's ruling as a victory.

The Democratic governor wrote on X early Friday that Trump was “not king nor above the law.”

“The court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he could do anything he wanted with the National Guard without having to explain himself to the court. The president is not the king, nor is the law. We will raise a challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of citizens by U.S. military soldiers,” he continued in a press release.

Judge Moores Trump’s power over the National Guard, Warning Us Not “King George” Monarchy

The governor noted that the court rejected Trump's claim that he could be at will for the federal government but still avoid judicial scrutiny.

“The Ninth Circuit rejected Trump's propaganda statement that he could take the National Guard federal for any reason and avoid judicial scrutiny, even if it persisted with an emergency district court order. It was a critical examination of the president's over-scrutiny and confirmed that the president has no legal scope for the president,” Newsom's press office said.

Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta remain committed to keeping the president accountable for the use of the military as a domestic law enforcement responsibility – they believe the action violates federal law, the Newsom office said.

While Newsom said the ruling was a victory, the National Guard deployed to Los Angeles earlier this month quelled the riots (ICE) in opposition to U.S. immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) as a unanimous ruling on Thursday led President Trump to calm the riots (ICE) in opposition to U.S. immigration and customs enforcement (ICE).

After an immigration raid protest the night before, U.S. National Guard members deployed around downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Trump wins a major victory against news in the battle for National Guard control

Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard since 1965 is the first president of the state National Guard president.

LR: California Governor Gavin Newsom and U.S. President Donald Trump. (Getty Image)

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The court said in the document that they believed the president made a legitimate decision.

Although the president failed to notify the governor before deploying the National Guard as required by law, the court cited Newsom's authority to reject the president's order.