LOS ANGELES (TNND) — An appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump can keep control of thousands of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over ICE raids.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked a federal judge's order last week that troops were deployed illegally, and both violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded Trump’s statutory authority.

On Thursday, the judges unanimously concluded it was likely that Trump "lawfully exercised his statutory authority, which authorizes federalization of the National Guard when 'the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.'"

The decision states the Trump administration presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for deploying troops, citing violent protesters.

“The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters ‘pinned down’ several federal officers and threw ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects’ at the officers. Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van’s windows," the court wrote. "The federal government’s interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.”

It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify the governor of California before federalizing the National Guard as required by law, Newsom had no power to veto the president’s order.

Trump called the ruling a "BIG WIN" on Truth Social.

"The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done," he continued.

Gov. Newsom expressed his disappointment on X that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of troops, but also agreed with one aspect of the decision.

“The court rightly rejected Trump’s claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court," he wrote. "The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”

The fight in court began when Gov. Newsom filed an emergency motion to halt troops from assisting with immigration raids.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said in his ruling that what is happening in Los Angeles does not meet the definition of a rebellion.

“The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion,’” he wrote. “Individuals’ right to protest the government is one of the fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment, and just because some stray bad actors go too far does not wipe out that right for everyone.”

Since June 7, Trump has deployed more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles against the state's wishes. A top Pentagon official testifying before the House, Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, estimated it will cost Los Angeles $134 million.