President Trump on Monday said he would support arresting California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) after Newsom dared the White House’s border czar to do so amid a clash over protests in Los Angeles that center on immigration.
Upon returning from Camp David to the White House on Monday, Trump was asked if his border czar Tom Homan should arrest Newsom in the wake of suggestions to do so over the weekend as protests erupted over immigration raids.
“I would do it if I were Tom,” Trump responded.
“I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing,” Trump said. “Look, I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy. But he’s grossly incompetent.”
Newsom responded swiftly on social media, calling the threat an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
“The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America,” Newsom posted on X. “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.”
The Trump administration has sparred with Newsom and other California officials over the response to demonstrations in Los Angeles in response to immigration raids there.
Protests have intensified in recent days, devolving at times into violence. White House officials have highlighted images of burning vehicles and clashes with law enforcement to make the case that the situation had gotten out of control.
Newsom announced the state would sue the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard without his approval. The governor and other Democrats have argued the decision by the White House inflamed an already tense situation that local law enforcement was handling.
Trump and Homan have warned that state and local officials could be arrested if they are violating the law.
“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy, you know? I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community. I care about this community,” Newsom told MSNBC on Sunday.
Trump and Newsom have also been at odds over the White House’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests, against the wishes of the governor and local officials.
White House officials have highlighted images of burning vehicles and clashes with law enforcement to make the case that the situation had gotten out of control.
Newsom announced the state would sue the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard without his approval. The governor and other Democrats have argued the decision by the White House inflamed an already tense situation that local law enforcement was handling.
The people that are causing the problem are professional agitators. They’re insurrectionists. They’re bad people. They should be in jail,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
He did not respond to a shouted question about whether he would invoke the Insurrection Act.
Updated at 1:22 p.m. EDT
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