It was earlier this year that California Gov. Gavin Newsom was making nice with President Donald Trump as he sought help for his wildfire-battered state and moderating his approach ahead of a potential bid for the White House.

The legal showdown between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump takes center stage Thursday afternoon in a federal courtroom in San Francisco.

A court hearing is set to begin Thursday on President Trump sending the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles over violent, anti-immigration enforcement protests.

President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members to help respond to protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids.

The National Guard has at times detained protesters in its deployment to Los Angeles, an official said Wednesday, as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs enforcement raids spread to other major cities.

"Neither the National Guard nor the Marines are engaged in law enforcement," the DOJ's motion reads. "Rather, they are protecting law enforcement."

Trump border czar Tom Homan announces National Guard deployment to Los Angeles County after anti-ICE demonstrations turned violent, stating authorities won't apologize for enforcing the law.

The Trump administration argued in federal court that any judicial intervention to curtail its deployment of military troops to Los Angeles would endanger federal immigration agents and undermine the president's authority to keep American cities safe.