Union members and supporters rally in Grand Park calling for the release of union leader David Huerta, who was arrested during an immigration enforcement action on June 9, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Mario Tama | Getty Images
About 700 U.S. Marines were mobilized Monday to support the California National Guard to protect federal personnel and property in Los Angeles, NBC News reported, citing two Defense Department officials.
The mobilization of the Marines is temporary, to give time for additional National Guard troops to arrive.
Earlier Monday, President Donald Trump said he would support arresting California Gov. Gavin Newsom for purportedly obstructing federal immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles.
Trump’s comment came shortly before Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta said they would sue Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for deploying National Guard troops to deal with protests over those enforcement actions.
The suit will ask a judge to rule that Trump’s federalization of the California National Guard was unlawful and to set aside the president’s order.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks as he announces the Golden State Literacy Plan and deployment of literacy coaches statewide, at the Clinton Elementary School in Compton, California, U.S. June 5, 2025.
Daniel Cole | Reuters
The civil complaint will argue that Trump’s action violates the U.S. Constitution and exceed his authority under federal law related to the National Guard because it occurred without Newsom’s consent or input, and because it was not warranted, Bonta said.
Trump’s action was the first time a president had activated a state’s National Guard since 1965 without a request from a governor.
“We have a winning case here,” Bonta said during a press conference.
Newsom, in a social media post, said Trump “flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard,”
“The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA,” Newsom wrote in the post on X. “It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing.
“We’re suing him.”
Bonta, in a statement outlining what he said was the failure of Trump’s order to meet the criteria of federalizing the state’s National Guard, said, “Let me be clear:Â There is no invasion. There is no rebellion.”
“The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends,” Bonta said.
“Federalizing the California National Guard is an abuse of the President’s authority under the law – and not one we take lightly.
Trump’s comment about arresting Newsom came in response to questions about his border czar, Tom Homan, who threatened to arrest Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and anyone else who obstructed immigration enforcement actions in California.
“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity but I think it would be a great thing,” Trump said.
Newsome, in a tweet, replied to Trump’s statement.
“The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America,” Newsom wrote.
“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,” the governor wrote.
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors charged labor leader David Huerta with felony conspiracy to impede an officer. Huerta, president of SEUI California, was arrested on Friday during a protest in L.A. He is due to appear in federal court later Monday.
Newsom on Sunday asked Trump to remove the California National Guard from scenes of demonstrations in Los Angeles. Trump had signed an order on Saturday night deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to the protests.
“This is a preview of things to come,” Newsom said in an interview with Brian Taylor Cohen that he embedded in his tweet about the planned lawsuit.
“This isn’t about L.A., per se. It’s about us today, it’s about you, everyone watching tomorrow,” the Democratic governor said.
“This guy is unhinged. Trump is unhinged right now, and this is just another proof point of that,” said Newsom.
Members of the California National Guard stand guard at the Paramount Business Center parking lot a day after clashes between protesters and law enforcement following multiple detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the Los Angeles County city of Paramount, California, U.S., June 8, 2025.
Jill Connelly | Reuters
Trump defended his decision in a social media post Monday.
“We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
“If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated,” said Trump.
Trump called Newsom “incompetent,” and said the governor and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass should be thanking him, saying “YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.”
“Instead, they choose to lie to the People of California and America by saying that we weren’t needed, and that these are “peaceful protests,” Trump wrote. “Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Trump of engaging in a “diversion” by deploying the Guard.
“Donald Trump — in the midst of a war with Elon Musk and his ugly tax bill that would rip healthcare from 17 million people — is in desperate need of a diversion,” Schumer said in a statement.
“His order to deploy the National Guard in California is unnecessary, inflammatory, and provocative. Trump should immediately revoke his command to use the National Guard, and leave the law enforcement to the governor and the mayor, who are more than capable of handling the situation,” Schumer said. “Americans do not need or deserve this unnecessary and provocative chaos.”Â
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
