Trump issues furious response after judge said he illegally deployed National Guard for LA protests
Former President Donald Trump lashed out in a fiery tirade after a federal judge ruled that his deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles during last month’s immigration protests was unlawful. The decision, delivered by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, found that Trump had overstepped his authority by sending federal troops into California without the express consent of Governor Gavin Newsom.
The controversy began when protests erupted outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Los Angeles, with demonstrators clashing with officers and blocking operations. In response, Trump ordered the National Guard to be deployed to restore order—an action he justified by claiming it was the only way to prevent “Los Angeles from burning to the ground.” But Judge Breyer’s ruling struck a severe blow to the legality of that move, citing federal statutes that restrict the President’s ability to mobilize the National Guard within state borders without gubernatorial approval.
In a sharply worded opinion, Breyer wrote, “The deployment was not only unauthorized but a direct violation of constitutional norms and federal law. The President cannot use military force to override state governance when no federal emergency has been declared and when the state’s leadership is neither consulted nor consents.”
The judge ordered an immediate reversal of federal control, placing the California National Guard back under the command of Governor Newsom. He also criticized the administration’s legal arguments, saying they “reflected a dangerous misunderstanding of the separation of powers and state sovereignty.”
Trump, never one to back down from a public confrontation, responded within minutes on Truth Social, his social media platform. In an all-caps post, he blasted the decision, calling it “INSANE” and “DEEP STATE SABOTAGE.” He claimed that his actions had prevented widespread destruction in Los Angeles and insisted that Governor Newsom had “lost control of the streets.”
He went further, accusing the Biden administration of creating the conditions for the unrest in the first place. “THIS IS BIDEN’S AMERICA,” Trump wrote. “OPEN BORDERS, VIOLENT PROTESTS, AND POLITICIANS WHO REFUSE TO PROTECT THEIR OWN CITIES. ICE OFFICERS ARE HEROES—AND I WON’T APOLOGIZE FOR DEFENDING THEM.”
In another post hours later, Trump shared a video montage of ICE officers clashing with protestors, set to dramatic music, with captions labeling them as “America’s Front Line.” In the video’s caption, he declared, “WITHOUT MY DECISION, L.A. WOULD LOOK LIKE A WAR ZONE.”
Governor Newsom responded more diplomatically but did not hold back. In a press conference, he called Trump’s deployment “an illegal stunt meant to score political points.” He added, “The National Guard is not a toy for federal theatrics. California did not ask for help. We asked for restraint.”
This is not the first time Trump’s approach to immigration enforcement and protest management has faced legal challenges. During his presidency, he frequently invoked the Insurrection Act and made liberal use of federal agents during periods of civil unrest, often bypassing local leadership.
Legal analysts say this ruling could have significant implications for how federal authority is exercised during protests and emergencies moving forward. “This is a rare but important decision,” said Professor Marla Estevez of Stanford Law School. “It draws a hard line between federal and state authority, particularly when it comes to the use of military force within U.S. borders.”
The case also comes at a politically sensitive time, with Trump facing mounting legal issues and attempting a full-fledged return to the campaign trail. His camp had recently teased a renewed focus on law and order, immigration crackdowns, and border security—core themes from his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
But the backlash following the unauthorized National Guard deployment may complicate that message. Critics argue the move was less about protecting the city and more about staging a high-profile show of strength. Some within California’s legislature have even begun exploring options to formally censure the former president for his actions.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles protests have mostly subsided, with tensions easing after talks between immigration officials and local leaders. But the political firestorm remains very much alive, with Trump’s supporters applauding his “decisive action” while opponents accuse him of endangering civil liberties and overstepping his bounds.
As for the former president, he shows no signs of backing down. In his final post of the night, he wrote, “THE FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING. I DID WHAT HAD TO BE DONE. AND I’D DO IT AGAIN.”
It’s clear this legal rebuke won’t be the last battle in Trump’s ongoing war with the institutions he once led—and now seeks to challenge once again.