Court Lets Trump Control California Guard Amid Dispute

A federal appeals court overturned a lower court decision, allowing President Trump to retain control of California's National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles during protests over immigration raids, despite Governor Newsom's objections. The Ninth Circuit unanimously found that Trump likely acted within his statutory authority, citing violence and threats against federal officers and property, and clarified that the president's power to federalize the Guard is not unlimited. The court rejected arguments that such orders are immune from judicial review and determined that Newsom could not veto the deployment even if notification was insufficient. The ruling is procedural, not addressing the full extent of federalized troops' permitted activities, with further hearings to examine potential Posse Comitatus Act violations. Governor Newsom condemned the move as authoritarian and said it heightened tensions, while Trump hailed the decision as a major win. California is pursuing a preliminary injunction to regain control over the Guard, with ongoing debate about presidential authority in such situations.