President Donald Trump redeployed 200 California National Guard troops from Los Angeles to Portland after a court blocked his initial attempt to send troops there.

The move bypassed a judge’s order and sparked outrage from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it a “breathtaking abuse of power” and vowed to sue.

The White House defended the action, saying it was necessary to protect federal property and personnel during violent protests.

Critics, including Newsom and other Democratic leaders, accused Trump of using the military as a political weapon against American citizens, the BBC has reported.

The deployment followed similar actions in cities like Chicago, part of Trump’s broader crackdown on crime and illegal immigration-related unrest.