LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over what he describes as an illegal and unconstitutional deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles. The move, prompted by escalating protests over immigration enforcement actions, has triggered a heated legal and political confrontation between state and federal authorities.
In a strongly worded statement posted to social media, Newsom said, “We are suing Donald Trump. This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. Constitution.” The California governor characterized Trump’s executive order authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles as “an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism that threatens the foundation of our republic.”
Newsom argued that the order could set a dangerous precedent by giving the federal government unchecked authority to send military forces into any state, regardless of a governor’s wishes. “Every governor—red or blue—should reject this outrageous overreach,” he added. In an interview with MSNBC, Newsom reiterated his plan to challenge the order in court, describing it as unlawful and politically motivated.
The backdrop to this clash is a wave of protests and demonstrations across Los Angeles in response to Trump-era immigration raids. Demonstrations have grown increasingly tense, with several declared unlawful by the Los Angeles Police Department. According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, while police initially did not intend to call in the National Guard, the rising violence prompted reconsideration. “Looking at the violence tonight, I think we’ve got to make a reassessment,” McDonnell said during a Sunday night media briefing.
Video footage shared widely on social media showed clashes between protesters and law enforcement, with reports of concrete projectiles, bottles, and other objects thrown at officers. One video captured self-driving vehicles from Alphabet’s Waymo engulfed in flames near downtown. Mounted police units were seen trying to disperse crowds as tensions escalated.
Meanwhile, National Guard troops began patrolling federal buildings amid the unrest. According to federal officials, the deployment aims to safeguard property and enforce public safety as protests evolve. The White House defended Trump’s decision, saying in a statement, “Everyone saw the chaos, violence, and lawlessness. If we see danger to our country and our citizens, it will be very, very strong in terms of law and order.”
In a social media post, Trump lashed out at both Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, criticizing what he called “the horrible job that they have done.” He also underscored the administration’s tough-on-crime stance, despite rising tensions with local officials.
Federal law enforcement has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect accused of injuring a federal officer by throwing rocks at police vehicles in Paramount. The FBI said the officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries but emphasized the growing danger posed by the protests.
The political and legal standoff now heads to the courts, with significant constitutional questions in play. Legal scholars note that the balance of power between states and the federal government, especially regarding the use of state militias, has long been a contentious and sensitive issue. Newsom’s lawsuit could become a defining case for how far a president’s authority extends in times of civil unrest.
