Trump-Newsom Feud Over National Guard in LA Riots Sparks Posse Comitatus Debate

President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom are locked in a heated standoff over the National Guard’s deployment in Los Angeles, where riots have erupted amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The clash hinges on the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law that limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement, signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes to curb military overreach during Reconstruction. While the law generally prohibits using federal troops for civilian policing, exceptions exist, such as when states fail to maintain order or under the Insurrection Act.

Trump, citing attacks on ICE agents during raids targeting illegal immigrants, deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on Sunday, accusing Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of allowing 'lawlessness to fester.' The White House framed the move as a necessary response to escalating violence. Meanwhile, Newsom fired back, calling the deployment 'unlawful' and a violation of state sovereignty. In a letter posted on X, he demanded the troops be returned to his command, arguing they’re inflaming tensions and diverting resources.

The Pentagon has also signaled readiness to deploy 500 active-duty Marines, raising the stakes. If the military takes a direct role in quelling the riots, the Posse Comitatus Act’s exceptions could be tested, potentially sparking a legal showdown. LA-based attorney and retired Army colonel Kurt Schlicter insists Trump’s actions are legally sound, citing precedents like the 1992 LA riots. 'The president has the authority,' Schlicter said, though he noted a judge might challenge it, setting the stage for a dramatic legal battle.