Federal ruling could restrict Trump on potential San Francisco troop deployment

State of play: The order concludes that the defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents the military from performing domestic law enforcement operations.

What they're saying: "This decision validates that the power of the president is not boundless," Bonta said during a Tuesday media briefing. "Trump's decision to deploy military troops to the streets of Los Angeles was nothing more than an act of political theater and public intimidation."

Between the lines: The judge's injunction — effective Sept. 12 — does not require withdrawing troops but restricts their use to non-policing roles, such as guarding federal property.

• That means the 300 National Guard members still stationed in the state — or additional troops sent elsewhere in California — can't be used for arrests, crowd control, traffic control or other law enforcement work, unless a valid exception under the act is satisfied.

Zoom in: Bonta said Trump following through on his threat last month to send troops to San Francisco "would be a complete misuse of the military, using them as political pawns to add no value."

• He noted that such an action could pull them away from critical duties like fighting wildfires.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is embroiled in a simmering standoff with Trump on multiple fronts, said in a statement on Tuesday that "no president can trample a state's power to protect its people."

• "Trump's attempt to use federal troops as his personal police force is illegal, authoritarian, and must be stopped in every courtroom across this country," he said.

What's next: White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios in a statement that "the President is committed to protecting law-abiding citizens, and this will not be the final say on the issue."

• Bonta said California is expecting Trump to appeal and pledged to fight again in court.