Court Rules Military Deployment to Suppress Protests Illegal
Trump Sparks Controversy by Vowing Troop Deployment in Chicago
Criticism Mounts Over Targeting Democratic Strongholds
Governor Newsom: "Court Confirms Military Mobilization Agains
A U.S. court has blocked President Donald Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard, ruling that it violates federal law. However, President Trump remained firm on his plan to deploy troops to other cities such as Chicago, even after the decision.
On September 2 (local time), Judge Charles Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that President Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles (LA) violated the federal Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement.
However, the ruling applies only to California, and the court did not order the withdrawal of troops remaining in LA. In addition, considering the possibility of an appeal by President Trump, the court suspended the effect of the ruling until the 12th of this month.
Judge Breyer pointed out, “There were indeed protests in LA, and some participants engaged in violence,” but added, “However, there was no insurrection, and there was no situation where civilian law enforcement authorities were unable to respond to the protests.” He also noted that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth “have expressed their intention to deploy the National Guard at the federal level in other cities nationwide,” stating, “This amounts to creating a national police force under the President’s command.”
Previously, in June, President Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines in response to protests in LA against his immigration enforcement policy. In response, the State of California filed a lawsuit, arguing that the deployment was illegal. This ruling comes as President Trump has recently mobilized the National Guard in Washington, D.C., citing crime reduction as justification. He has also announced plans to deploy troops to Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland, and New York.
Even immediately after the ruling, President Trump reaffirmed his intention to deploy troops to Chicago. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, he was asked about deploying the National Guard to Chicago and replied, “We are going in,” emphasizing his responsibility to address crime in the city. However, he did not mention any specific timeline or details. Just before the ruling, he also wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, “Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the world,” and pledged, “I will resolve the crime issue swiftly, just as I did in Washington, D.C.”
In Washington political circles, there is analysis that President Trump’s plan to deploy troops targets cities that are Democratic strongholds, suggesting a political motive. Both Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, whose state includes Chicago, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose state includes LA, are considered potential Democratic presidential candidates.
Meanwhile, Governor Newsom posted on X (formerly Twitter) immediately after the ruling, stating, “Donald Trump has lost again,” and emphasizing, “The court confirmed that deploying troops to our streets and mobilizing the military against American citizens is illegal.”
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