Newsom accused Trump of unlawfully federalizing the California National Guard without the state’s approval — an act he deemed “illegal,” “immoral,” and “unconstitutional.”
In an MSNBC interview on Sunday night, Newsom mentioned that the lawsuit aims to contest the president’s ability to control the Guard, cautioning that such an order could pave the way for federalizing National Guard units across the nation.
“Donald Trump has created the circumstances you witness on your screens tonight. He has intensified these situations. He’s, you know, struck the proverbial match. He’s pouring gasoline on this fire, ever since he indicated he was assuming control of the National Guard,” Newsom stated.
The protests in Los Angeles erupted in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that commenced on Friday. By Sunday, thousands of protesters had filled the streets, at one moment impeding a freeway and setting autonomous vehicles ablaze. Law enforcement deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades to break up the crowds, which disbanded after the city labeled the protests an unlawful assembly.
On Monday morning, Newsom took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize his position: “He ignited the flames and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard. The order he enacted doesn’t just pertain to CA. It will grant him authority in ANY STATE to do the same. We’re filing a lawsuit against him.”
President Trump reacted early Monday with a suggestion to mobilize the military. Posting on his platform Truth Social just past midnight, he stated: “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!”
Later that afternoon, Trump reaffirmed his stance, criticizing Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “The extremely incompetent ‘Governor,’ Gavin Newscum, and ‘Mayor,’ Karen Bass, ought to be expressing gratitude: ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR,’” Trump posted. “Instead, they opt to mislead the People of California and America by claiming that we weren’t necessary, and that these are ‘peaceful protests.’ Just a glance at the images and footage of the Violence and Destruction reveals everything you need to know.”
Trump insisted that deploying the National Guard was essential for public safety, asserting, “We will always take the necessary steps to ensure the Safety of our Citizens, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
