Showdown Brewing Between Trump and Newsom Over Military Deployment in Los Angeles
Tensions are rapidly escalating between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom following the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles in response to protests triggered by immigration raids in the surrounding regions.
The controversy erupted after Trump authorized sending in the National Guard and U.S. Marines without obtaining consent from Newsom. The president defended the move, claiming it was necessary to prevent widespread destruction in the city.
“If I hadn’t sent in the troops the last three nights, Los Angeles — once a great and beautiful place — would be engulfed in flames right now, just like the 25,000 homes that burned due to a governor and mayor who can’t do their jobs,” Trump wrote on social media Tuesday.
A Costly Federal Operation
According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the deployment — which includes Marines and National Guard units — is expected to cost upwards of $134 million and last for at least two months.
Governor Newsom, however, has strongly condemned the federal action. “Our U.S. Marines are meant to protect democracy — not serve as political theater,” he posted Monday. “This illegal deployment, orchestrated by the President, is meant to create headlines for his weekend parade. It’s an outrageous abuse of power.”
On Tuesday, Newsom’s administration filed an emergency petition in federal court aiming to block the deployment, arguing it overstepped constitutional authority. However, the request was denied, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday allowing the administration to present its case.
Long-Simmering Tensions Boil Over
The conflict marks the latest and most intense chapter in a rocky relationship between the two political figures — one that has waxed and waned over the years. Newsom, widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, governs California, the state with the largest economy in the country.
During the 2024 campaign, Newsom frequently criticized Trump, who in turn has mocked the governor by calling him “Newscum.” Despite that, the two appeared to reconcile temporarily during wildfire recovery efforts just a few months ago, even sharing a handshake and a brief embrace in front of cameras.
That fragile truce, however, seems to have crumbled this week when Trump suggested that Newsom should face arrest.
Trump: ‘I’d Arrest Him If I Were Tom’
Former ICE Director and Trump’s border policy advisor, Tom Homan, recently hinted that state officials obstructing federal immigration efforts could face arrest. Newsom fired back with defiance: “Come and get me, tough guy.”
Although Homan later walked back the threat, saying there were no immediate plans to arrest the governor, Trump doubled down. “If I were Tom, I’d do it,” he said.
Despite the comment, Trump simultaneously said, “I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a decent guy — just totally incompetent.”
Newsom Warns of Authoritarian Overreach
The governor didn’t mince words in his response, accusing Trump of attempting to undermine democratic norms. “A sitting President just called for the arrest of a state governor. I never thought I’d see this in America,” Newsom tweeted. “This is about more than politics — this is a dangerous line we must not cross.”
He added, “Whether you’re Democrat or Republican, the idea of arresting political opponents is a step toward authoritarianism we cannot accept.”
This intensifying conflict between state and federal leadership may represent one of the most dramatic power struggles in recent U.S. politics. As protests continue in Los Angeles and legal proceedings unfold, the nation watches as two political heavyweights clash in what could become a defining moment for federal-state relations.