Fact Check: Appeals court rules Trump likely acted lawfully in federalizing National Guard!

Fact Check: "Appeals court rules Trump likely acted lawfully in federalizing National Guard!"

What We Know

On June 19, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that President Donald Trump likely acted within his legal authority when he federalized the California National Guard in response to protests in Los Angeles related to his immigration policies. The court's unanimous decision indicated that while the president's authority to deploy the National Guard could be subject to judicial review, the evidence presented suggested that the deployment was justified due to interference with federal law enforcement operations by protesters (source-2, source-4). The court noted that protesters had engaged in actions that obstructed federal enforcement, including throwing objects at vehicles and vandalizing property (source-3).

The ruling temporarily blocked a lower court's decision that had favored California's argument, which contended that the president should have consulted the state's governor, Gavin Newsom, before deploying the National Guard (source-5). The appeals court's decision allows Trump to maintain control of the National Guard troops while the legal battle continues (source-6).

Analysis

The court's ruling is significant as it addresses the balance of power between state and federal authorities regarding the deployment of the National Guard. The judges emphasized that while they recognized the potential for judicial scrutiny of the president's actions, they found sufficient justification for the deployment based on the evidence of civil unrest (source-7).

However, the ruling does not fully endorse Trump's actions; it merely states that he "likely acted within his authority," which leaves room for further legal interpretation and challenges. The dissenting views from California officials highlight concerns about the unprecedented nature of deploying the National Guard without state consultation, suggesting a potential overreach of executive power (source-8).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including major news outlets and official court documents, which provide a comprehensive view of the legal arguments and the implications of the ruling. However, the political context surrounding the case may introduce some bias, particularly in how different media outlets frame the president's actions and the responses from state officials.

Conclusion

The claim that an appeals court ruled Trump likely acted lawfully in federalizing the National Guard is Partially True. The court did affirm that Trump likely had the legal authority to deploy the National Guard based on the circumstances presented. However, the ruling also acknowledges the complexity of the legal issues at play and does not provide a definitive endorsement of the president's actions, leaving the door open for further legal challenges and interpretations.

Fact Check: Appeals court rules Trump likely acted lawfully in federalizing National Guard!