Newsom to Sue Trump Admin Over National Guard Use in LA Protests
By : Sandhya
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to sue the Trump administration over what he calls the “unlawful” deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests.
Calling the move a "serious breach of state sovereignty," Newsom criticized the decision for escalating tensions and diverting essential resources. "Rescind the order. Return control to California," the governor posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In a formal letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Newsom demanded the immediate withdrawal of federal troops, asserting that local authorities were fully capable of handling the situation. The letter pointed to the effective response by Los Angeles police and sheriff departments during protests on Saturday night as evidence that outside intervention was unnecessary.
Newsom also took aim at President Donald Trump, accusing him of misleading conduct. The governor claimed Trump made no mention of deploying troops during their phone conversation on Friday. “It was a very civil conversation,” Newsom said Sunday. “I’ve always tried to engage with the President in a respectful way. But there’s no working with Trump—only working for him. And I will never work for Donald Trump.”
The governor emphasized that tensions in California only escalated after federal involvement. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” he said.
The White House, meanwhile, confirmed that President Trump had authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, although only 300 had arrived by Sunday. The remainder are reportedly on standby pending further orders.
Additionally, the Pentagon confirmed that 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton are on "prepared to deploy" status, in case violence escalates further in the region.
Newsom’s legal challenge sets the stage for a high-profile constitutional clash between state and federal authority, with broader implications for how protests and civil unrest are handled nationwide.