Governor Murphy joins fight against Trump’s National Guard decision

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joined more than 20 other Democratic governors to condemn President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to confront immigration protesters in Los Angeles.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he planned to file a lawsuit against Trump in response to the administration’s extraordinary deployment of the National Guard

Newsom, also a Democrat, said that commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the governor of that state is "illegal and immoral.”

LAPD officers on horseback clash with protesters during protests after a series of immigration raids on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Tensions in the city remain high after the Trump administration called in the National Guard against the wishes of city leaders. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The streets of the sprawling city of 4 million people were mostly quiet Monday morning, the day after crowds blocked off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire.

Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Sunday’s protests were centered in several blocks of downtown and a handful of other places.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) cars, some damaged, are lined up along the 101 freeway after officers cleared protesters from the area on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Tensions in the city remain high after the Trump administration called in the National Guard against the wishes of city leaders following two days of clashes with police during a series of immigration raids. More protests are scheduled for today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

In the letter signed by Murphy, the Democratic leaders called the deployment "an alarming abuse of power."

Complete statement by Democratic governors

“President Trump’s move to deploy California’s National Guard is an alarming abuse of power. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous.

“Further, threatening to send the U.S. Marines into American neighborhoods undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement.

“It’s important we respect the executive authority of our country’s governors to manage their National Guards — and we stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.”

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers stand guard as a person holds up an American flag while blocking the 101 freeway on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Tensions in the city remain high after the Trump administration called in the National Guard against the wishes of city leaders following two days of clashes with police during a series of immigration raids. More protests are scheduled for today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)