"Authoritarian President": Newsom counters Trump following detention warning
In a heated escalation of the power struggle between President Donald Trump and California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, the leaders took matters to a new level on Monday. The subject of contention was the handling of protests in Los Angeles fueled by President Trump's immigration crackdown.
After Newsom objected to the deployment of the National Guard without his consent, Trump ordered hundreds of Marines into the city. Earlier in the day, upon his return from a weekend at Camp David, Trump suggested he would have arrested Newsom if he were "border czar" Tom Homan, mere hours after Homan stated there had been "no discussion" about arresting Newsom.
Newsom, taking a firm stand, fired back on Instagram, stating, "The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor... This is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism."
In response to a White House Correspondent's question about the crime Newsom had committed to warrant his arrest, Trump responded, "I think his primary crime is running for governor because he’s done such a bad job." Homan himself later clarified that there was no intention to arrest Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
As the tension continued to mount, Trump announced his decision to deploy the National Guard to California, despite objections from Newsom. Trump claimed, "the biggest change from that statement is we have an incompetent governor." Trump asserted that his administration was "straightening out his problems" in California.
Since the dispute, California has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that the president's order federalizing the National Guard contravenes both the Constitution and federal law. The court is scheduled to review the matter on Thursday. The engagement between Trump and Newsom has intensified the already strained relationship between the federal government and California.
- During a heated video interview with a White House Correspondent, President Trump accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of committing a crime, stating that his primary crime was running for governor due to his alleged poor performance.
- In a firm stance, Governor Newsom responded to Trump's comments on Instagram by asserting that Trump's call for his arrest was an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.
- The debate over the handling of protests in Los Angeles, fueled by President Trump's immigration policies, has spurred a significant escalation in politics between the President and California's Democratic Governor.
- The ongoing dispute between Trump and Newsom has led to a lawsuit filed by California against the Trump administration, alleging that the president's order to federalize the National Guard violates both the Constitution and federal law, with the court scheduled to review the matter on Thursday.
