A U.S. federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard to Los Angeles was unlawful, ordering the immediate return of command to Governor Gavin Newsom.

In a sharply worded 36-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer declared Trump’s decision to override Newsom’s objections and deploy troops during recent protests in Los Angeles as “illegal,” adding that the situation did not meet the threshold of a rebellion or national emergency. The judge paused the enforcement of his order until noon Friday to allow for an appeal.

The case stems from Trump’s unilateral decision to federalize the National Guard in response to demonstrations against immigration raids. Although the former president cited widespread unrest, state officials insisted the protests were largely peaceful and well-managed by local law enforcement, with only isolated incidents of violence.

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Governor Newsom, reacting on live television, welcomed the ruling with fierce criticism of Trump’s actions. “He is not a monarch. He is not a king, and he should stop acting like one,” Newsom said, asserting that constitutional authority over the state’s National Guard lies with the governor unless a legitimate national crisis justifies federal intervention.

Legal analysts say this case could set a precedent in the ongoing debate over the limits of presidential authority, especially in domestic security matters involving protests and civil unrest. The White House swiftly filed an appeal, and observers expect the case could escalate to the Supreme Court.

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Breyer’s ruling warned against setting a dangerous precedent where peaceful protest is construed as rebellion. “There is no evidence that these protests constituted an attempt to overthrow the government,” he wrote. “The First Amendment does not vanish in moments of political inconvenience.”