US appeals court allows Trump control of National Guard in Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO, United States: A US appeals court on Friday ruled that President Donald Trump could continue control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles this month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and Newsom.

A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, saying the president´s decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles was “illegal.”

But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days to “protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property.”

“Affording appropriate deference to the President´s determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard,” they said in their 38-page ruling.

Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a “BIG WIN.”