California has launched legal action against the Trump administration following the United States federal deployment of the state's National Guard to address ongoing protests in Los Angeles, Attorney General Rob Bonta confirmed on Monday.
The move comes a day after Governor Gavin Newsom stated his intent to sue in a post on X.
"Donald Trump is putting fuel on this fire. Commandeering a state's National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral," Newsom wrote on Sunday. "California will be taking him to court."
The U.S. military has since escalated the situation, confirming that 700 Marines will be deployed to the Los Angeles area to protect federal personnel and property, while U.S. officials reportedly told the Associated Press that Trump has authorised the deployment of a further 2,000 National Guard troops.
Tensions between Mr. Trump and Governor Newsom have intensified, with the former president suggesting the arrest of Newsom. “I would do it if I was Tom,” Trump said, referring to Tom Homan, his executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations. “I think it's great. Gavin likes publicity. But I think it would be a great thing.”
Attorney General Bonta criticised the federalisation of the California National Guard, arguing that it deprives the state of critical resources needed during emergencies. Speaking to CBS News’ The Takeout, Bonta said President Trump lacked the legal authority to unilaterally deploy the Guard under current circumstances.
“The authority that the president cites to only allow for the deployment of the National Guard by the president when there's an invasion by a foreign nation, which there's not, when there's a rebellion to overturn leadership of the United States of America, which there's not, or when the regular forces of the federal government cannot execute the law, which is also not present,” Bonta said.
The lawsuit also contends that the Governor, as commander-in-chief of the state’s National Guard, must consent to its federalisation - something Newsom has firmly rejected.
"President Trump's order calling federalised National Guard troops into Los Angeles - over the objections of the Governor and local law enforcement - is unnecessary and counterproductive," Bonta said in a formal statement.
"It's also deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who are hard at work every day protecting our state, preparing for and responding to emergencies, and training so that, if called, they can fight our nation's wars."
The National Guard was deployed to downtown Los Angeles on Sunday following a weekend of large demonstrations and confrontations with police. The protests erupted after wide-scale immigration enforcement operations took place across the city on Friday.
As of midday Monday, officials reported at least 53 arrests. The LAPD said it had arrested 31 individuals on charges including failure to disperse, throwing projectiles at officers, looting, and arson. The California Highway Patrol arrested 17 people, while the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported five arrests.
Mr. Trump first announced the troop deployment on Saturday night and followed with further criticism of Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, branding the demonstrators "troublemakers and insurrectionists".
Governor Newsom responded by accusing the president of “escalating the situation” and labelled the National Guard deployment as “purposefully inflammatory.”
He also sent a formal letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting the withdrawal of the federal troops, stating there was "no need" for their presence.
