Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump as a “dictator” Sunday and formally demanded Trump rescind his order federalizing California National Guard troops to protect federal agents and properties from rioting illegal immigration protesters angered by the enforcement of immigration laws in Los Angeles the past few days. Saturday night, Trump ordered 2,000 troops to be deployed in Los Angeles for up to sixty days.
Newsom posted in response to Trump telling reporters Sunday evening that California officials could face federal charges if they interfere with federal immigration enforcement, “- Inciting and provoking violence – Creating mass chaos – Militarizing cities – Arresting opponents These are the acts of a dictator, not a President.”
– Inciting and provoking violence
– Creating mass chaos
– Militarizing cities
– Arresting opponentsThese are the acts of a dictator, not a President. https://t.co/e4YjBMPtna
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2025
Newsom’s office sent a demand letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Sunday calling Trump’s order “unlawful” because the order did not go through the governor’s office. The letter claims there is no need for the National Guard because, “At present, law enforcement authorities from the City and County of Los Angeles are safeguarding public safety…(text below)
Newsom posted the letter with this statement, “I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command.
We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while… pic.twitter.com/SYIy81SZdH
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 8, 2025
Dear Secretary Hegseth:
On June 7, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum to your office entitled “Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions.” The memorandum purports to invoke 10 U.S.C. § 12406 to “call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard . . . to temporarily protect ICE and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions, including the enforcement of Federal law, and to protect Federal property.” The memorandum further directs “actions as necessary for the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with the Governors of the States and the National Guard Bureau in identifying and ordering into Federal service the appropriate members and units of the National Guard under this authority.”
Section 12406 states that “the President may call into Federal service members and units of the National Guard of any State in such numbers as he considers necessary” to (1) repel an invasion of the United States by a foreign nation; (2) suppress a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States; or (3) execute the laws of the United States when the President is unable to do so with regular forces. Section 12406 further states that “[o]rders for these purposes shall be issued through the governors of the States.”
Last night, the Adjutant General of California received a memorandum from your office with the subject line “Calling Members of the California National Guard into Federal Service,” which states that “[t]wo thousand members of the California National Guard will be called into Federal service effective immediately for a period of 60 days.” Notably, this directive did not issue “through the governor[] of the State[]” as required by section 12406; the Department of Defense did not transmit this directive to the Office of the Governor, nor was it approved or ordered by the Governor of California. This directive is also inconsistent with the President’s memorandum, which anticipates “coordinat[ion] with the Governors of the States” in identifying and ordering units of the National Guard into federal service.
At present, law enforcement authorities from the City and County of Los Angeles are safeguarding public safety, and, as demonstrated by the robust law enforcement response yesterday evening to protect federal facilities, local law enforcement resources are sufficient to maintain order. In dynamic and fluid situations such as the one in Los Angeles, State and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources to safeguard life and property. Indeed, the decision to deploy the National Guard, without appropriate training or orders, risks seriously escalating the situation.
There is currently no need for the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles, and to do so in this unlawful manner and for such a lengthy period is a serious breach of state sovereignty that seems intentionally designed to inflame the situation, while simultaneously depriving the State from deploying these personnel and resources where they are truly required. Accordingly, we ask that you immediately rescind your order and return the National Guard to its rightful control by the State of California, to be deployed as appropriate when necessary.
Sincerely,
David Sapp
Legal Affairs Secretary
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
The Democratic Governors’ Association released a statement Sunday in support of Newsom signed by every other Democrat governor:
Statement from Democratic Governors on Donald Trump’s Use of California’s National Guard
DGA Chair Governor Laura Kelly, DGA Vice Chair Governor Andy Beshear, Governor Tony Evers, Governor Bob Ferguson, Governor Josh Green, Governor Maura Healey, Governor Katie Hobbs, Governor Kathy Hochul, Governor Tina Kotek, Governor Ned Lamont, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor Dan McKee, Governor Matt Meyer, Governor Janet Mills, Governor Wes Moore, Governor Phil Murphy, Governor Jared Polis, Governor JB Pritzker, Governor Josh Shapiro, Governor Josh Stein, Governor Tim Walz, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement:
“President Trump’s move to deploy California’s National Guard is an alarming abuse of power. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous.
“Further, threatening to send the U.S. Marines into American neighborhoods undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement.
“It’s important we respect the executive authority of our country’s governors to manage their National Guards — and we stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.”
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