Gavin Newsom Sues Trump to Keep National Guard Out of Los Angeles as Riots Continue [WATCH]

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration following the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing unrest.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday afternoon, seeks to block the federal activation of the National Guard, arguing that the deployment violates California’s state sovereignty.

The legal complaint challenges President Donald Trump’s decision to mobilize the National Guard without a formal request or approval from the state’s governor, calling it a breach of constitutional boundaries.

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“One of the cornerstones of our Nation and our democracy is that our people are governed by civil, not military, rule,” the complaint states.

“The Founders enshrined these principles in our Constitution — that a government should be accountable to its people, guided by the rule of law, and one of civil authority, not military rule.”

California officials argue that under the U.S. Constitution and long-standing legal precedent, the president may only federalize state National Guard units under limited, urgent circumstances—circumstances which they claim are not currently present in Los Angeles.

“Only under the most exigent of circumstances can the President, over the objections of a State, call the National Guard into federal service,” the complaint continues.

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The legal challenge comes one day after Governor Newsom publicly demanded that President Trump rescind the order, labeling the deployment “unlawful.”

The governor’s office released a letter from Legal Affairs Secretary David Sapp to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Sunday, further outlining California’s objections.

“There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles,” the letter reads.

“To do so in this unlawful manner and for such a lengthy period is a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation while simultaneously depriving the state from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required.”

The letter concludes with a formal request: “Accordingly, we ask that you immediately rescind your order and return the National Guard to its rightful control by the State of California to be deployed as appropriate when necessary.”

Governor Newsom echoed this stance in a public statement posted to X on Sunday evening.

“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command,” Newsom wrote.

“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”

I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command.

We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while… pic.twitter.com/tOtA5dcfxc

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2025

The Trump administration has not issued a formal response to the lawsuit as of Monday evening.

The deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles followed a weekend of escalating demonstrations and clashes in the city related to federal immigration enforcement operations.

The lawsuit is expected to set off a broader legal battle over the limits of federal authority in activating National Guard troops within state borders without gubernatorial consent.

Legal experts have pointed to previous court rulings on the Insurrection Act and the president’s role as commander-in-chief, noting that courts have historically granted the executive branch significant latitude during national emergencies, while also preserving state powers.

The case will now proceed in federal court, where a judge will determine whether the Trump administration’s actions violated constitutional provisions or federal law governing the use of the National Guard.

Here’s Gavin Newsom in June of 2024 telling Republicans to stop playing politics and to send some National Guard to California to help with the border.

It was election time so it was time to pretend to be for law and order.

Today Newsom announced that he is suing Trump because… pic.twitter.com/2TANRrmITW

— MAZE (@mazemoore) June 9, 2025