Governor Gavin Newsom sues Donald Trump for ‘illegally’ deploying National Guard to California ICE protests
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a lawsuit to block U.S. President, Donald Trump from taking control of the state’s National Guard units and deploying them against protesters opposing the administration’s mass deportation efforts.
The move comes amid violent clashes in Los Angeles following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that triggered widespread unrest.
Newsom accused Trump of deliberately fueling violence, saying the president “flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard” through a weekend memorandum that placed at least 2,000 California National Guard soldiers into federal service for two months. The memorandum, Newsom warned, could allow the president to use both National Guard and active-duty military forces to suppress protests across the United States.
“We’re suing him,” Newsom declared, emphasizing that Trump’s order threatens state sovereignty and could be applied to any state in the nation. California Attorney General Robert Bonta said the administration’s action was “unnecessary and counterproductive,” calling it an abuse of presidential authority. Bonta also stressed the unfair burden placed on National Guard members, who typically focus on emergencies and training.
The White House responded sharply to the lawsuit. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson blamed Newsom’s leadership for the unrest, accusing him of being “directly responsible for the lawless riots and violent attacks on law enforcement in Los Angeles.” Jackson urged the governor to restore law and order instead of pursuing what she called “baseless lawsuits.”
Newsom, meanwhile, has not held back in his criticism of Trump and his officials. In a recent interview, he described the president as “unhinged” and branded the White House cabinet “a band of misfits.” He warned that the crisis in Los Angeles is “a preview for things to come,” stressing that the stakes go beyond California.
The governor also challenged Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, to arrest him during a TV interview, mocking the threat of legal action against Democratic officials who oppose ICE operations. Several Democratic governors, including Kansas’ Laura Kelly and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, have voiced support for Newsom, condemning the federal deployment of National Guard troops without consultation as “an alarming abuse of power” that undermines state authority.
The clashes in Los Angeles have continued despite law enforcement efforts, with more than 100 arrests made during ICE operations in the county. Police declared downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly zone after demonstrators set cars on fire and blocked freeways.
President Trump defended his decision to federalize the National Guard, claiming the move prevented Los Angeles from being “completely obliterated” by the protests.
The confrontation between the federal government and California highlights the deep political divide over immigration enforcement and the limits of presidential power in managing state-level unrest.
