California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared visibly shaken on September 5, 2025, as reports emerged of a federal appeals court ruling that delivered what many are calling the most devastating blow of his political career. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay on U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer’s recent decision, which had ruled the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying National Guard troops and Marines for immigration enforcement in Los Angeles. The stay, issued by a panel including two Trump appointees, preserves the status quo, allowing federal control over the Guard to continue pending a full appeal.
Newsom, who has been locked in a fierce legal feud with President Trump since June’s immigration raids sparked protests, had hailed Breyer’s September 2 injunction as a victory against “authoritarian overreach.” The ruling prohibited troops from direct policing activities, but the appeals court’s intervention—described as procedural—effectively delays enforcement until at least mid-September. Sources close to the governor say the decision left Newsom in tears during a private strategy session, fearing it undermines his authority and bolsters Trump’s aggressive border policies.
The lawsuit, Newsom v. Trump, argues the federalization of 4,000 Guard members without state consent was unlawful, escalating tensions in a sanctuary state. Trump hailed the stay as a win for “law and order,” while Newsom accused the court of enabling a “manufactured crisis.” Critics within the Democratic Party worry the setback could tarnish Newsom’s image as a national leader, especially amid his vocal challenges to Trump on immigration and redistricting.
As the case heads to expedited hearings, the ruling highlights deepening federal-state divides. For Newsom, it’s a personal and political gut punch, testing his resolve in an already polarized landscape.
