Posse Comitatus Act Sparks Legal Clash Between Trump and Newsom Over National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles
President Trump and California Governor Newsom spar over National Guard deployment during L.A. riots, citing different interpretations of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act.
Tensions are escalating between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the recent deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles, as violent riots continue to grip the city. Both leaders are offering markedly different interpretations of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, a law that largely prohibits federal military involvement in domestic law enforcement but contains significant exceptions for situations deemed extraordinary.
The renewed debate comes after President Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Sunday. This action followed reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were allegedly targeted during raids designed to apprehend and deport undocumented immigrants. Citing what he called local authorities’ inaction, Trump stated in a presidential memorandum that the move was necessary "to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester." The White House emphasized that these troops have not yet participated in any direct law enforcement operations.
Governor Newsom responded swiftly and forcefully, taking to social media to voice his disapproval. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. In an official letter sent the same day, Newsom demanded that the Trump Administration rescind the deployment order and return command of the National Guard to the state government, arguing that the federal intervention had only aggravated the situation on the ground.
The standoff highlights the delicate legal framework governing the use of military forces within the United States. While the Posse Comitatus Act is widely understood to limit such deployments, it does allow for exceptions. Notably, the Insurrection Act gives the president broad authority to deploy both the National Guard and active-duty military personnel if local governments are either unable or unwilling to restore public order. The Pentagon has also indicated it stands ready to send an additional 500 Marines should the unrest continue to spiral out of control.
As both sides dig in, the growing controversy over federal intervention in Los Angeles is fast becoming a national flashpoint on the limits of executive power and the shifting balance between state and federal authority during times of crisis. How this legal and political dispute unfolds could set crucial precedents for dealing with civil unrest in the future and will almost certainly shape the evolving relationship between Washington and the states.
