Fact Check: "Trump boasts court ruling as a 'BIG WIN' for federal control over cities."
What We Know
On June 19, 2025, a federal appeals court in California ruled that President Donald Trump could maintain control over approximately 4,000 members of the California National Guard. This decision temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that had required Trump to relinquish control back to the state, following a lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The appeals court found that Trump likely exercised his statutory authority under federal law to federalize the National Guard in response to unrest related to immigration enforcement in Los Angeles (NPR, CNN).
In his response to the ruling, Trump referred to it as a "BIG WIN" on his Truth Social platform, asserting that it affirmed the federal government's ability to protect cities and their residents (DW, Newsweek). The appeals court's decision highlighted incidents of violence during protests, which the court deemed justified the federal deployment of the National Guard to prevent interference with federal law enforcement operations (NPR).
Analysis
The ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is significant as it underscores the legal complexities surrounding the federalization of state National Guard troops. The court's decision to allow Trump to maintain control was based on a "highly deferential" standard of review, suggesting that the judiciary is cautious about second-guessing presidential decisions regarding military deployment (CNN, DW).
Critically, the appeals court rejected some arguments from California's legal team, which claimed that Trump had violated federal law by not issuing an order "through the governor" when federalizing the troops. The court concluded that since the California National Guard's adjutant general acted as an agent of the governor, Trump's actions likely met the procedural requirements (NPR, CNN).
However, the ruling is temporary and does not resolve the broader legal questions surrounding the president's authority to deploy the National Guard without state consent. The lower court had previously ruled that Trump's actions were illegal, citing violations of the Tenth Amendment, which delineates the powers of state versus federal governments (NPR). This ongoing legal battle indicates that while Trump may celebrate this ruling as a victory, the final outcome remains uncertain as further hearings are scheduled (NPR).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump boasts a court ruling as a "BIG WIN" for federal control over cities is True. The appeals court's decision to allow Trump to maintain control over the California National Guard, coupled with his public declaration of the ruling as a significant victory, supports this assertion. However, the legal implications of this ruling are still unfolding, and the ultimate authority of the federal government in such matters continues to be challenged.
Sources
- An appeals court backs Trump's control of the California National Guard for now. NPR
- Trump can maintain control of thousands of California National Guard troops. CNN
- US court allows Trump to retain control of National Guard. DW
- Donald Trump Celebrates Legal Win Over Deploying National Guard. Newsweek
