California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking to “stop the Trump Administration’s continued federalization of the National Guard through Election Day.” California filed the request for a preliminary injunction shortly after asserting that the President violated federal law when he deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles during the summer in actions related to immigration raids.
“There was never a need—and there is certainly no need now—for troops to be deployed against their own communities,” Newsom stated, emphasizing that “Trump cannot justify keeping the military in Los Angeles… We will not back down.”
On Aug. 5, the Trump Administration issued a directive to federalize and deploy 300 remaining California National Guard troops. If this proceeds, “California’s residents will remain under a form of military occupation until Nov. 5,” said Attorney General of California Rob Bonta in a statement regarding the new filing. Newsom and Bonta have both expressed concern about having troops present during California’s elections on Nov. 4.
Bonta has contended that the Trump Administration “continues to hold our National Guard service members hostage” in an “unprecedented” move, labeling the redeployment of the troops “absurd.”
“We are requesting the court to block implementation of this latest order, and we are confident that given the facts—or lack thereof—underpinning this order, the court will concur,” Bonta remarked.
California’s newest legal move follows Trump’s warning to Los Angeles about the prospect of another uninvited military deployment.
“He [Newsom] did not wish for us to be present, and he will require our assistance once more, as it is beginning to manifest again, I observe it… It is starting to take shape again. You understand, we must uphold it. It is akin to airplane maintenance; you can purchase it but you must sustain it,” Trump stated in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon.
Newsom quickly responded through social media channels.
“California declines to be intimidated into submission by the petty individuals in the White House. No sensible person believes the Trump Administration ought to initiate another unsuccessful L.A. militarization,” Newsom posted via his California Governor account.
Newsom expanded upon this on his personal X profile, addressing Trump’s threat by reposting an image of soldiers resting on the ground in Los Angeles during the peak of Trump’s military operation in the metropolis.
Regarding Trump’s threat to supervise a new deployment, Newsom commented: “So you intend for them to sleep on the floor once more? We are quite fine.”
Newsom and Trump have been embroiled in a protracted verbal feud. Recently, Newsom has conspicuously adopted the MAGA strategy for social media, imitating Trump’s distinct language and his inclination for composing statements in uppercase.
Concerning his recent social media engagement, Newsom informed journalists: “I hope this serves as a wake-up call to the President of the United States, following his precedent. If you find fault with what I am disseminating, you absolutely ought to be troubled by what he is disseminating as President. To the degree it has garnered attention, I am content.” Newsom additionally inquired, “how have we permitted the normalization of his [Trump’s] tweets, Truth Social posts over the past numerous years to proceed without comparable examination and acknowledgment?”
In August, Newsom unveiled an online store designed to compete with the Trump Store, offering merchandise that seemingly satirizes a range of recognizable MAGA items.
Products featured on the website include caps emblazoned with “Real Patriot” and “Newsom was right about everything!” drawing parallels to analogous items sold through Trump’s merchandise outlet, which offers a “Trump 2028” hat, thus igniting speculation that he aims to seek a third term.
Newsom’s limited-edition $100 “Holy Bible” was completely sold out within mere hours, with purchasers notified that it was “autographed by Gavin Newsom, America’s Favorite Governor.” Trump notably released his own “God Bless the USA” bible in 2024 and allegedly generated hundreds of thousands of dollars from its sales.
“THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPERATIONAL!!!!” Newsom announced, further stating that “many assert this is the finest merchandise ever created.” Again, his choice of language and social media communication seemed to parody the President’s distinctive manner.
Disputes between Newsom and Trump trace back to the latter’s initial term in office. Shortly after he took office as Governor of California in early 2019, Newsom accused Trump of “instilling fear” regarding his discourse on immigration and the LGBTQ+ community.
The two clashed once more following Trump’s return to the White House, when the President blamed Newsom for the intensity of L.A.’s wildfires that consumed large areas of land in January. Newsom retorted, stating Trump was “engaging in political games” with the catastrophe.
In June, when troops were deployed in Los Angeles despite the objections of California’s leadership, Newsom described the action as “intentionally provocative” and asserted that Trump “desires to be constrained by no law or Constitution, thereby maintaining a concerted attack on American customs.” He subsequently initiated a legal challenge that persists currently.
Trump and Newsom have also engaged in direct confrontation concerning a redistricting dispute, following the California Governor’s warning to Trump that he would “retaliate in kind” in response to Texas Republicans’ proposal to redraw state district boundaries in early August.
Newsom proposed to redraw California district boundaries to counteract the measures taken by Texas Republicans, labeling the initiative “Liberation Day” for the Golden State. California’s Democrats endorsed Newsom’s redistricting proposal on August 21, subsequent to Republicans in the Texas House approving their own new maps.
