The ongoing protests around immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles have ignited a heated dispute between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom, one of Trump’s most outspoken critics among Democratic leaders.
In response to the escalating unrest, President Trump announced on Sunday that he would deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to California. This decision came without any consultation with Newsom, prompting the governor to vow on Monday that California would sue the federal government.
Trump justified the troop mobilization by pointing to a legal provision that allows him to act in situations of perceived rebellion against the federal government. In an incendiary twist, he hinted—along with one of his advisors—that Governor Newsom might even warrant arrest.
Reflecting the president’s commitment to taking decisive action, he stated, “You have violent people, and we’re not gonna let them get away with it,” while addressing reporters in Morristown, New Jersey on that same Sunday.
Newsom’s frustration reached a boiling point with Trump’s unilateral decision to send the California National Guard into the state. Calling this action a “serious breach of state sovereignty,” Newsom demanded that Trump rescind the deployment in a letter delivered on Sunday. At the time, he was in Los Angeles, engaging with law enforcement and community leaders, where he warned protesters against engaging in violence or property damage.
“Trump wants chaos and he’s instigated violence,” Newsom declared. “Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don’t give him the excuse he’s looking for.”
In a later MSNBC interview, Newsom recounted a call he had with Trump mere days before the announcement. He noted that in their discussion—which lasted nearly 20 minutes—the topic of deploying the National Guard never arose. “We had a very decent conversation,” he asserted, while going on to label Trump a “stone-cold liar” for suggesting otherwise.
Contrary to Newsom’s statements, Trump claimed he had warned the governor that he needed to manage the protests. In his remarks to reporters, Trump stated, “Look, you’ve got to take care of this. Otherwise, I’m sending in the troops. … That’s what we did.”
On social media, Trump maintained that without his intervention, Los Angeles would have been “completely obliterated” by the unrest. He also took the opportunity to mock Newsom, referring to him using the derogatory term “Newscum.”
Regularly confronting Trump and his actions, Newsom declared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that California would indeed pursue legal action against Trump. “This is a manufactured crisis. He is creating fear and terror to take over a state militia and violate the U.S. constitution,” Newsom stated on Monday.
Following through on his legal vow, Governor Newsom’s administration filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta. The legal action claimed that the troop deployment “trampled” on state sovereignty and sought a restraining order against it. While the initial deployment consisted of just 300 National Guard troops, the number was expected to rise to the full 2,000 authorized by Trump. Not long after, Trump sanctioned yet another deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops.
As tensions continued to mount, Newsom accused Trump not only of escalating hostilities but also of expending resources ineffectively. He urged protesters to avoid responding to what he described as “Trump’s bait.”
In discussing the lawsuit on MSNBC, Newsom characterized the deployment as an “illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act.” Responding to questions about the legal challenge, Trump appeared unfazed, describing the lawsuit as “interesting.” He reiterated his belief that without federal involvement, “that place would be burning down,” indicating he felt justified in his actions.
Adding to the volatility of the situation, Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, cautioned that anyone, including public officials, could be arrested for obstructing federal immigration enforcement. Newsom responded defiantly, stating, “Come and get me, tough guy,” directly addressing Homan’s warnings during an interview and on social media.
In a demonstration of the ongoing rivalry, Trump voiced support for the idea of arresting Newsom, saying, “I would do it if I were Tom.” He went on to suggest, “Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”
While the prospect of Newsom’s arrest loomed in the air, Homan clarified that there had been “no discussion” about actually pursuing such an action. However, he echoed the sentiment that “no one’s above the law.”
On Monday, after a White House event, Trump reiterated his criticism of Newsom’s governance, stating that Newsom’s “primary crime is running for governor, because he did such a bad job.”
The conflict between Trump and Newsom has not only highlighted their stark political differences but has also sent ripples through public discourse regarding state sovereignty, federal intervention, and the role of law enforcement amid populist unrest.
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