I a post on the platform X California Governor Gavin Newsom tries to clarify the events of the past few days in Los Angeles:
"1. Local police did not need help. 2. Trump sent soldiers anyway – to create chaos and violence," he writes about the president's decision to send the National Guard to quell protests against the fortified migrant camps in the multi-million city.
At the same time, his administration in Sacramento has filed lawsuits against the White House, whose actions are described as "an infringement on the state's sovereignty that appears intended to worsen the situation".
President Trump, on the other hand, claims that Los Angeles has been "occupied by criminals and undocumented immigrants." In posts on his own platform Truth Social, he urges Newsom to ask the residents for forgiveness for his "terrible job".
A test lab?
The verbal fight is likely to be about more than just migration policy and soldiers.
Gavin Newsom, called News-cum by Donald Trump in a reference to the word dregs, has long been a thorn in the president's side. It is well known that Republicans in general and Trump in particular do not want him to run for president in 2028.
Newsom leads the United States' largest state – according to the IMF, the world's fourth-largest economy – which has been a democratic stronghold and test lab for progressive politics for decades. California introduced strict climate regulations for emissions and support measures for young undocumented immigrants early on, which goes against Trump's MAGA policy. After Trump's election victory in the fall, Newsom called a special session of the state legislature to address campaign promises, including reduced electric vehicle subsidies, watered-down abortion rights, measures against undocumented immigrants, and reduced federal disaster aid.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we will not sit idly by,” the governor promised, according to Politico.
Partied during Covid
That Newsom still hugged Trump in January when the latter visited fire-ravaged areas in Los Angeles and shortly afterwards made a visit to the White House left many people raising an eyebrow. The media suggested that the governor had learned the political game.
Newsom is, however, far from an unblemished politician. On the minus side are, among other things, a criticized dinner party when Covid restrictions were in place, as well as an inability to get a handle on crime and homelessness in major cities. His own contentious podcast has, among other things, been visited by former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, which has been questioned.
During the past few days' fight with Trump, leading Democrats have rallied around Newsom, which has fueled speculation about a future presidential candidacy.
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Correction: Incorrect formulation about Kimberly Guilfoyle in the fact box has been corrected.
Born 1967 in San Francisco. Has a degree in political science from Santa Clara University, where he received a scholarship as a baseball player. Dyslexic who has openly spoken about his reading and writing difficulties in interviews.
Opened a vineyard in Napa Valley and ran it and other companies in the hotel and restaurant industry for a few years.
Democrat who began his political career in 1996, when he became a member of San Francisco's traffic commission. Won the city's mayoral election in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. Ordered in 2004 that marriage licenses be issued to same-sex couples in the city, despite it not being legal in the state.
In 2010, he was elected deputy governor of California and won the gubernatorial election in his home state in 2018. His second and final term expires in January 2027.
Married to actress and filmmaker Jennifer Siebel. The couple has four children: Montana, Hunter, Brooklynn, and Dutch.
Previously married to TV presenter Kimberly Guilfoyle, who later became engaged to Donald Trump Jr. President Trump has nominated Guilfoyle for the post of US Ambassador to Greece.
Hosts the well-known podcast This is Gavin Newsom.
