California Sues Against Nationalization of Its National Guard

California state Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, asserting their federalization and deployment to Los Angeles of California National Guard troops without a request from state and local leaders exceeded executive authority.

Bonta seeks a restraining order against the deployment. It began with federalization and call-up of 2000 of the CNG troops, of which 300 were deployed in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.

Bonta said:

Let me be clear: There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends. Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President’s authority under the law–and not one we take lightly. We’re asking a court to put a stop to the unlawful, unprecedented order.

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said anyone who impedes federal immigration enforcement can be arrested, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Later, Trump told reporters, “I would do it if I were Tom. I like Gavin Newsom… he’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.”

Newsom responded in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

“The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation—this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

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