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President Donald Trump scored a major legal victory over California Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday, as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled in favor of Trump’s authority to federalize the National Guard. The decision overturns a lower court’s attempt to hand control back to Newsom, who had sued the president during unrest in Los Angeles.
The judges cited federal law that allows the president to act when regular forces can’t enforce the law, dismissing Newsom’s argument as weak and politically motivated.
Trump celebrated on Truth Social, calling it a “BIG WIN” and slamming Newsom as “incompetent and ill prepared.” He also emphasized the broader impact, saying the ruling reinforces a president’s ability to protect American cities when state leaders won’t or can’t step up.
The ruling marks the first time since 1965 that a president has deployed the Guard without a governor’s approval, and the court made clear that Trump had every legal right to do it.