Newsom and Trump are bitter rivals. There’s no love lost between the two.
And Gavin Newsom declares war on Donald Trump with this disturbing move.
California’s new legislative term kicked off with a special session this week, dedicated to crafting a strategy to counter President-elect Donald Trump’s policies.
The session, called by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, signals the state’s commitment to protecting its progressive values in the face of potential legal battles with the incoming administration.
Governor Newsom is seeking approval from the legislature for a $25 million legal defense fund to bolster the state’s justice department.
The purpose of this fund, according to Newsom, is to “Trump-proof” California against legal challenges from Washington.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive,” Newsom declared in a statement last month to announce the special session.
Key areas of focus for California Democrats include protecting policies that limit cooperation between state and local authorities with federal immigration enforcement, as well as defending the state’s stringent vehicle emissions standards.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported these as among the primary targets of the Trump administration’s anticipated challenges.
California Democrats have consistently positioned themselves as leaders of resistance to Trump’s agenda. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, appearing on CBS News over the weekend, praised Newsom’s approach to immigration and confirmed the state’s commitment to providing legal assistance for undocumented immigrants.
“If it’s legal assistance, legal advice, legal support, that’s just the California way. We embrace our diversity. Our diversity is what has made our communities thrive and our economy thrive. And so we will assist families against the threats of the Trump administration,” Padilla explained.
Padilla also signaled opposition to the mass deportation rhetoric often associated with Trump, emphasizing a more targeted approach.
“If we wanted to sort of cut to the chase, you know, we’re hearing a lot of bombast from Trump and his allies about the biggest deportation operation in our country’s history, on the one hand, versus a – maybe a focus on violent criminals on the other,” he stated. “Nobody – nobody disagrees with a focus on violent criminals.”
Trump, for his part, has not hesitated to lash out at Newsom and California’s Democratic leadership.
Last month, he accused them of driving residents out of the state with misguided policies, posting on Truth Social:
“Governor Gavin Newscum is trying to K*LL our Nation’s beautiful California. For the first time ever, more people are leaving than are coming in,” Trump wrote.
“He is using the term ‘Trump-Proof’ as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to ‘Make California Great Again,’ but I just overwhelmingly won the Election.”
As California braces for a potential clash with the Trump administration, the state’s leadership is doubling down on its radical Leftist policies, determined to uphold its principles despite the challenges ahead.
Whether this effort succeeds in shielding the state or triggers more intense political battles remains to be seen.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
