California Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking an injunction 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 a federal judge ruled the President violated federal law when he deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles during the summer to quell protests related to immigration raids.
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“There was never a need—and there is certainly no need now—for troops to be deployed against their own communities,” said Newsom, arguing that “Trump can’t justify keeping the military in Los Angeles… We won’t back down.”
On Aug. 5, the Trump Administration issued an order to federalize and deploy 300 remaining California National Guard troops. If it goes ahead, “California’s residents will remain under a form of military occupation until Nov. 5,” said Attorney General of California Rob Bonta in a press release regarding the new filing. Newsom and Bonta have both expressed concern about having troops present during California’s Statewide Special Election on Nov. 4.
Bonta has argued that the Trump Administration “continues to hold our National Guard service members hostage” in an “unprecedented” move, calling the redeployment of the troops “absurd.”
“We’re asking 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 agree,” Bonta said.
Read More: Trump’s Troop Deployment to L.A. Broke the Law, Judge Rules
California’s latest legal action comes after Trump threatened Los Angeles with the potential of another unwelcome military deployment.
“He [Newsom] didn’t want us there, and he’s going to need us again, because it’s starting to form again, I see it… It’s staring to form again. You know, we have to maintain. It’s like maintenance on an airplane, you can buy it but you have to maintain it,” said Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon.
Newsom issued a swift response via social media.
“California refuses to be scared into submission by the small men in the White House. No one in their right mind thinks the Trump Administration should launch yet another failed L.A. militarization,” he said via his California Governor account.
Newsom elaborated further on his personal X profile, responding to Trump’s threat by resharing a picture of troops sleeping on the floor in Los Angeles during the height of Trump’s military deployment in the city.
Of Trump’s threat to oversee a new deployment, Newsom said: “So you can have them sleep on the floor again? We’re good.”
Newsom and Trump have long been engaged in a bitter war of words. As of late, Newsom has notably taken to using the MAGA playbook when it comes to social media, mirroring Trump’s own vernacular and fondness of writing out statements in capital letters.
Of his recent social media activity, Newsom told reporters: “I hope it’s a wake-up call to the President of the United States following his example. If you have issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as President. To the extent it’s gotten attention, I’m pleased.” Newsom also questioned “how have we allowed the normalization of his [Trump’s] tweets, Truth Social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice?”
Read More: Newsom Promotes His ‘Real Patriot’ Alternative to MAGA Merchandise as Trump-Trolling Escalates
In August, Newsom launched an online shop to rival the Trump Store, selling merchandise appearing to mock a series of well-known MAGA products.
Items on the site include hats that read “Real Patriot” and “Newsom was right about everything!” referencing similar products available via Trump’s merchandise shop, which includes a “Trump 2028” hat, fueling speculation that the President may attempt to run for a third term.
Newsom’s special edition $100 “Holy Bible” sold out within hours, with buyers informed that it’s “signed by Gavin Newsom, America’s Favorite Governor.” Trump famously launched his own “God Bless the USA” bible in 2024 and reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result.
“THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!!” Newsom announced online, adding that “many people are saying this is the greatest merchandise ever made.” Once again, his use of vernacular and social media address appeared to be mocking the President’s own style.
Disagreements between Newsom and Trump date back to the latter’s first term in office. Not long after assuming the position of Governor of California in early 2019, Newsom accused Trump of “fear-mongering” in relation to his language on immigration and the LGBTQ+ community.
The two once again clashed upon Trump’s return to the White House, as the President blamed Newsom for the severity of L.A.’s wildfires that engulfed swaths of land in January. Newsom hit back and said Trump was “playing politics” with the disaster.
In June, when Trump deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles against the wishes of California’s leaders, Newsom referred to the move as “purposefully inflammatory” and said Trump “wants to be bound by no law or Constitution, perpetuating a unified assault on American traditions.” He went on to mount a legal battle that continues to this day.
Trump and Newsom have also gone head-to-head over a redistricting row, after the California Governor warned Trump that he would “fight fire with fire” in response to Texas Republicans proposing to redraw state district lines in early August.
Newsom is officially pursuing efforts to redraw California district lines to counter the actions of Texas Republicans, calling the move “Liberation Day” for the Golden State. California’s Democrats approved Newsom’s redistricting plan on Aug. 21, after Republicans in the Texas House passed new maps of their own.