Fact Check: Trump's deployment of the Guard is the first in 60 years against a governor's wishes.

Published June 20, 2025

•By

✓

VERDICT

True

# Fact Check: "Trump's deployment of the Guard is the first in 60 years against a governor's wishes." ## What We Know The claim that President Donald...

Fact Check: "Trump's deployment of the Guard is the first in 60 years against a governor's wishes."

What We Know

The claim that President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard is the first in 60 years against a governor's wishes is supported by multiple sources. According to a ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Trump's deployment of the California National Guard in June 2025 was indeed the first instance since 1965 where a president activated a state's National Guard without the consent of the state governor, in this case, California Governor Gavin Newsom (AP News, NPR). The last similar action occurred when President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators during a time of unrest (NPR, New York Times).

The court's decision allowed Trump to maintain control over the National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles amid protests against federal immigration enforcement, despite a lower court ruling that found his actions illegal (Washington Post). The appeals court noted that while the president does not have unlimited power to federalize state National Guard troops, the circumstances surrounding the deployment justified Trump's actions (AP News).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from credible news sources that reported on the legal proceedings surrounding Trump's deployment of the National Guard. The unanimous decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a significant legal backing for the claim, as it directly states that this deployment was unprecedented in the last 60 years (AP News, NPR).

The reliability of the sources is high, with the AP and NPR being well-established news organizations known for their journalistic integrity. The New York Times and Washington Post also provide thorough coverage of the legal and political implications of the deployment, further corroborating the claim (New York Times, Washington Post).

However, it is important to note that the context of the deployment involved significant civil unrest and protests, which Trump and his administration cited as justification for the federalization of the National Guard. Critics, including Governor Newsom, argued that such actions were unnecessary and could exacerbate tensions (NPR, Washington Post). This highlights a division in interpretation of the events, but does not detract from the factual basis of the claim regarding the historical precedent.

Conclusion

The claim that Trump's deployment of the National Guard is the first in 60 years against a governor's wishes is True. The legal rulings and historical context confirm that this action is indeed unprecedented since 1965, when President Johnson took similar measures in Alabama. The sources consulted provide a clear and consistent narrative supporting this claim.

Sources

Have a claim you want to verify? It's 100% Free!

Our AI-powered fact-checker analyzes claims against thousands of reliable sources and provides evidence-based verdicts in seconds. Completely free with no registration required.

💡 Try:

"Coffee helps you live longer"

✓100% Free

✓No Registration

✓Instant Results