The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Oct. 23, 2026 that President ’s federalization and deployment of the California National Guard in Los Angeles was an abuse of his authority and a “violation of the constitutional separation of powers,” the governor’s office said.
The governor’s office said the court rejected the President’s assertion that there was a “rebellion” in Los Angeles and that the decision builds on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last December that found federalization of the Illinois National Guard illegal.
Governor said the ruling creates essential legal precedent that protects Californians and all Americans; he added, “California continues to stand as the first line of defense against Donald Trump’s authoritarianism.” Attorney General said, “Once again, the courts have rejected the Trump Administration’s attempts to circumvent the law for his own political agenda,” and he called the Los Angeles deployment a clear example of federal overreach.
The governor’s office said Attorney General Bonta filed the lawsuit in June 2025 after President Trump called for Governor Newsom’s arrest; the suit sought to end what the state described as an illegal takeover of a CalGuard unit that bypassed the governor and needlessly escalated chaos in the Los Angeles region.
The governor’s office said today’s rejection of the “rebellion” claim is a critical safeguard ahead of next month’s elections because it warns that courts will strike down false emergency claims used to militarize communities and intimidate citizens.
The governor’s office urged Californians to know their rights and report potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents at www.oag.ca.gov/reportmisconduct; the office said to call 911 if a crime is occurring or someone is in immediate danger.
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 3 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named 3 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Federal
Donald J. Trump
President of the United States · Republican
Named 3 times in this story.
Portrait: Daniel Torok / The White House (public domain)
Sources & methodology
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