Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday he will sue the Trump administration for deploying 300 California National Guard troops to Portland without his consent.
In a press release, Newsom called the deployment “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power” and accused President Donald Trump of using the military as a political weapon against American citizens.
Trump ordered the Portland deployment last month, claiming an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility was “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.” The president posted the announcement on Truth Social. (RELATED: Judge Blocks Trump From Sending Troops To Portland)
BREAKING: We’re suing Donald Trump.
His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn’t about crime.
It’s about power.
He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego.
It’s appalling. It’s un-American.
And it must stop. pic.twitter.com/jdIMGz8hDP
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 5, 2025
A federal judge on Saturday blocked a separate deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump, granted state and local officials a temporary restraining order against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s authorization.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson challenged Trump’s characterization of the situation. The three Democrats filed a restraining order request on Sept. 28, calling the deployment unlawful.
This is the second time Trump has federalized California’s National Guard over Newsom’s objections. In June, the president sent 4,000 troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during protests against ICE raids. A federal judge later ruled that deployment violated the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits using the military for civilian law enforcement.
Newsom said Sunday that Trump lacks constitutional authority to federalize state troops except in cases of invasion, rebellion or when regular forces cannot execute the laws.
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