Fact Check: Appeals court backs Trump's deployment of California National Guard
What We Know
A federal appeals court in California has ruled that President Trump can maintain control over California National Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles. This decision temporarily blocks a lower court ruling that deemed Trump's actions illegal, asserting that he exceeded his statutory authority and violated the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (NPR, NBC News). The appeals court, specifically the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, stated that the president has the authority to deploy the National Guard to prevent interference with federal law enforcement, which was a key argument in Trump's justification for the deployment amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations (Reuters, PBS).
The ruling came after Governor Gavin Newsom of California filed a lawsuit challenging Trump's control over the National Guard, arguing that the military presence could escalate tensions between protesters and law enforcement (NBC News). The appeals court noted that while it disagreed with the lower court's assessment of the protests as not constituting a rebellion, it maintained that the president's decision should be afforded a high degree of deference in such matters (PBS).
Analysis
The appeals court's ruling is significant as it marks the first time in 60 years that a president has activated a state's National Guard without the governor's consent, a move reminiscent of President Lyndon Johnson's actions in 1965 (NPR). The court's decision to allow Trump to retain control of the National Guard was based on the assertion that the federal government demonstrated a strong likelihood of prevailing in the legal challenge posed by California (Reuters).
Critically, the ruling emphasized the need for judicial deference to the president in matters of national security and law enforcement, which raises questions about the balance of power between state and federal authorities. The lower court had previously ruled that Trump's deployment was illegal, citing the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government for the states. However, the appeals court's ruling suggests that the president's actions may be justified under certain circumstances, particularly when federal law enforcement is involved (NBC News, PBS).
The credibility of the sources reporting on this ruling is generally high, with major news outlets like NPR, NBC News, and Reuters providing detailed accounts of the court's decision and the legal context surrounding it. These outlets are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking practices, lending reliability to their reporting.
Conclusion
The claim that an appeals court has backed Trump's deployment of the California National Guard is True. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the president's authority to maintain control over the National Guard troops, temporarily blocking a lower court's ruling that deemed his actions illegal. This ruling underscores the complexities of federal versus state authority, particularly in matters of national security and law enforcement.
Sources
- An appeals court backs Trump's control of the California National Guard
- US court lets Trump keep control of California National Guard
- Appeals court says Trump can keep control of California National Guard troops
- Trump allowed to keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles by appeals court
