California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, accusing him of intentionally inciting unrest during the ongoing protests in Los Angeles.
Newsom’s condemnation came shortly after Trump claimed the deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines was necessary to control civil unrest and protect immigration agents from what he described as a ‘vicious and violent mob.’
In a video address posted on social media, Newsom stated, ‘Donald Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities—they’re traumatizing our communities.’ He asserted that the president’s actions appeared to have a purpose.
As the situation unfolded, Trump portrayed the federal government’s intervention as essential, while Newsom argued that state and local law enforcement had been effectively maintaining peace until federal authority escalated tensions with tear gas, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets.
Newsom further accused Trump of making an ‘illegal’ call to deploy the California National Guard, thereby inflaming an already volatile situation.
‘This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk,’ Newsom stated. ‘He doubled down on his dangerous National Guard deployment by fanning the flames even harder. And the president, he did it on purpose.’
In the latest developments, Newsom, alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed a request for a restraining order aimed at halting the ‘Department of Defense’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles and the takeover of a California National Guard unit.’ This legal action followed a lawsuit that California filed against the Trump administration, alleging that the deployment of the National Guard without the governor’s consent violated the U.S. Constitution.
After returning to Washington, President Trump emphasized what he claimed was a ‘good relationship’ with Newsom but also blamed the governor for the unrest in Los Angeles.
‘If we didn’t get involved, Los Angeles would be burning down right now,’ Trump stated, referencing the historical context of the city’s wildfires.
The president described the military’s role in Los Angeles as one of de-escalation, characterizing protesters as paid ‘insurrectionists,’ ‘agitators,’ and ‘troublemakers.’
Trump pointed out that the world is watching Los Angeles, particularly with the upcoming Olympics, and suggested that Newsom’s actions were permitting chaos.
In a more controversial tone, Trump suggested that Tom Homan, his top border policy advisor, should follow through on threats to arrest the governor. Newsom quickly condemned this remark, likening the current administration’s rhetoric to that of an ‘authoritarian regime.’
‘I never thought I’d hear those words,’ Newsom remarked, indicating the unprecedented nature of such a threat against a sitting governor from a political rival.
This controversy escalated even further when House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) refrained from responding directly to questions regarding the potential arrest of Newsom, instead making a disparaging remark about the governor.
In response to Johnson, Newsom argued that the speaker has ‘completely abdicated’ his responsibility to provide a check on presidential power and warned that other states could face similar measures.
Newsom called for accountability at a higher level during this tumultuous period, encouraging peaceful expression among the protesters.
‘At this moment, we all need to stand up and be held to account,’ he said, addressing the anxieties and fears many Americans are feeling.
‘What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him,’ Newsom urged, emphasizing the importance of continued resistance against perceived authoritarianism.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-10/newsom-says-about-immigration-l-a-raids
