California Governor Gavin Newsom is locked in a fierce battle with the Trump administration over the deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against ICE enforcement actions. Newsom has accused Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth of “illegally deploying” Marines onto California streets, a move he calls a “blatant abuse of power” and a “red line” that threatens the nation’s checks and balances.
The escalating conflict began as protests against ICE operations in Los Angeles intensified, leading to clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. In response, President Trump initially deployed National Guard troops to the city. Newsom, however, strongly opposed this move, arguing that state and local authorities were capable of handling the situation. “We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom stated on X.
Trump then authorized the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops, further inflaming tensions. The Defense Department also mobilized approximately 700 Marines to Los Angeles, a move that Newsom decried as unnecessary and inflammatory. “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” Newsom wrote on X. He also stated that the National Guard troops initially deployed were “given no food or water” and were largely unused.
Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta have filed a lawsuit against Trump and Hegseth, seeking to block the federalization of the National Guard. The lawsuit argues that Trump’s actions are unconstitutional and exceed his authority, particularly as they occurred without Newsom’s consent. Bonta emphasized, “There is no invasion. There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends.”
The ACLU has also condemned Trump’s actions, with Hina Shamsi, director of the National Security Project, stating, “Every move President Trump has made since Saturday night has been escalatory and inflammatory.”
Adding to the controversy, President Trump publicly endorsed the arrest of Governor Newsom. When asked about Tom Homan’s threat to arrest Newsom for obstructing immigration enforcement, Trump responded, “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great.” He later said Newsom’s “primary crime is running for governor, because he’s done such a bad job.”
Newsom responded to this threat by stating, “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.”
Meanwhile, California is surging its own resources to manage the situation. Governor Newsom announced the deployment of over 800 additional state and local law enforcement officers to Los Angeles to “clean up President Trump’s mess.” This includes California Highway Patrol officers and mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions.
