Trump isn’t playing any games. He’s tired of the lawlessness in Democrat-run states.
And Donald Trump has called for the arrest of this top Democrat governor.
Trump and Newsom Clash Over Border Policies and National Guard Deployment
Tensions between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom erupted this week following chaotic anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles County. On Monday, Trump praised his border czar, Tom Homan, for threatening to arrest Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass if they interfered with federal immigration enforcement. Speaking to reporters, Trump called the idea “great,” adding, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”
Trump didn’t hold back in criticizing Newsom’s leadership, stating, “He’s done a terrible job.” Despite acknowledging a personal fondness, saying, “Look, I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy,” the president branded the governor “grossly incompetent.” The remarks came after Homan warned Newsom and Bass on Sunday that they could face arrest if they “cross[ed] the line” by obstructing federal agents apprehending undocumented immigrants.
Newsom fired back, labeling Trump’s comments a dangerous precedent. In a post on X, he wrote, “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 9, 2025
This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.
I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward… pic.twitter.com/tsTX1nrHAu
The governor doubled down during an MSNBC interview, challenging Homan directly: “He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me.” Newsom accused federal authorities of overreach, urging them to “let your hands off 4-year-old girls that are trying to get educated. Let your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror.”
Homan appeared to soften his stance on Monday, clarifying on Fox & Friends that his focus was on protesters who break the law, not on arresting Newsom or Bass outright. “What we discussed was for those protesters that crossed the line … you can protest, you get your First Amendment rights, but when you cross that line, you put hands on an ICE officer or you destroy property or I’d say that you impede law enforcement, or you’re knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that’s a crime, and the Trump administration is not going to tolerate it,” he said.
Addressing the possibility of arresting state officials, Homan added, “Well no one’s above the law. If they cross the line and commit a crime, absolutely they can.”
The dispute intensified over Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles, a move he touted on Truth Social as having saved the city from being “completely obliterated.” Newsom and Bass rejected the necessity of the deployment, with the governor calling it “unconstitutional” and announcing plans to sue the Trump administration.
Newsom argued that the federal government failed to coordinate with his office, despite governors typically holding authority over National Guard deployments. Trump, however, could leverage the Insurrection Act of 1807, which grants the president power to federalize the Guard and deploy U.S. military forces to address domestic unrest.
Newsom’s Leadership Failures in California
Newsom’s handling of this crisis is just one chapter in a pattern of ineffective leadership that has left California grappling with persistent challenges. His administration has struggled to address the state’s homelessness crisis, with tent encampments swelling in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The governor’s ambitious promises to fix the homelessness crisis have fallen flat. Meanwhile, California’s high taxes and regulatory burdens have driven businesses and residents to flee.
On public safety, Newsom’s policies have drawn criticism for being soft on crime, contributing to rising theft and violent crime rates in urban areas. His reluctance to crack down on illegal activities during the recent protests only amplifies perceptions of a leader more focused on rhetoric than results.
While Newsom touts progressive ideals, his failure to deliver tangible solutions has left many Californians disillusioned, questioning his ability to manage a state of nearly 40 million people.
These many missteps by Gavin Newsom, coupled with his confrontational stance against federal authority, paint a picture of a governor whose priorities often seem misaligned with the needs of his constituents, leaving California vulnerable to ongoing crises.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
