Shapiro joins states in legal action against Trump's National Guard deployments

Pennsylvania has joined nearly two dozen states in taking legal action in an attempt to stop President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to U.S. cities.

The multistate amicus brief argues that the deployment of National Guard troops in Oregon was “unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic,” according to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office.

The Trump administration has offered a range of justifications for sending National Guard troops to U.S. cities, including supporting efforts to reduce crime, quell violent protests, provide administrative and logistical support for immigration enforcement activities and protect federal property.

Shapiro said during an appearance in Philadelphia that he joined the other states in filing the brief “to make very, very clear that the Pennsylvania National Guard, under the leadership of Gen. (John) Pippy, is under my command. I’m the commander in chief of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and we use the Guard responsibly.

“I think the way the president has chosen to deploy the Guard in other states, and in at least one case, deploy the guard of one state into another state — Texas into Illinois — is extremely dangerous,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro argued that Trump’s handling of the Guard “does not make us more safe. It creates chaos and real danger in our communities.”

A White House spokeswoman dismissed opposition from Shapiro and fellow Democratic Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California — the latter of whom she referred to as “Newscum.” The three have been mentioned as potential contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

“It looks like Gov. Shapiro has a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) that all his future presidential primary opponents … are getting attention from the far-left for opposing the president’s commonsense efforts to Make America Safe Again,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

Jackson said Trump “has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. Shapiro’s desperate cries for attention won’t fool the American people and Pennsylvanians who elected President Trump on his law-and-order platform.”