Trump Deploys 300 California National Guard to Portland Amid Legal Challenge

President Donald Trump is deploying 300 California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, after a federal judge blocked his attempt to federalize Oregon's National Guard for deployment there. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move as a "breathtaking abuse of the law and power" and pledged to sue the Trump administration, accusing the president of using the military as a political weapon against American citizens. The federal judge, Karin Immergut—appointed by Trump—issued a temporary restraining order, ruling that the protests in Portland did not justify federalizing the National Guard and emphasizing the importance of state sovereignty and constitutional law. Trump’s decision to send troops from one state to another without consent raises significant legal and political concerns about the limits of presidential authority and the militarization of civil matters. The deployment has occurred without official announcements from the White House or Defense Department, and the move follows Trump’s broader expressed intent to use liberal cities as "training grounds" for the military. Both Oregon and California officials strongly oppose the deployment and are prepared to challenge it in court.