Former President Donald Trump praised a federal appeals court decision that allowed him to continue deploying the California National Guard in Los Angeles, following a legal battle with the state. Trump claimed his actions prevented the city from being destroyed and thanked the court for its ruling.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of a previous ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who found Trump had exceeded his authority by federalizing National Guard troops without state approval. Breyer ruled the deployment violated the 10th Amendment and ordered the Guard to return to Governor Gavin Newsom’s control.

Breyer’s order was briefly delayed to allow time for appeal, which the Trump administration quickly filed. The appeals court issued a stay, allowing the Guard to remain under federal command until a scheduled hearing. The legal challenge stemmed from California’s lawsuit against Trump, the Department of Defense, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aiming to limit federal military operations within the state.

The lawsuit contested Trump’s authority to deploy troops without the governor’s consent, particularly for missions beyond protecting federal property or ICE agents. This became a point of constitutional contention, drawing in national political figures and media coverage.

Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, criticized Trump’s actions, mistakenly referencing a non-existent “Article 10” of the U.S. Constitution. She likely meant Title 10 of the U.S. Code, which governs National Guard federal service. However, legal experts pointed out that presidents have long held the power to federalize the Guard without a governor’s permission, a precedent upheld by the Supreme Court.

Pelosi also inaccurately claimed she had asked Trump for National Guard support ahead of January 6, a statement later refuted by former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who said he was blocked from deploying the Guard.