The confrontation between California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over the unrest in Los Angeles is rapidly spiraling into a full-blown political crisis. Following three days of protests triggered by federal immigration raids, Trump not only deployed National Guard troops to the city but has now openly suggested that Governor Newsom should be arrested.
At a White House press briefing on Monday, Trump responded to a reporter’s question about an ongoing exchange between Newsom and White House border advisor Tom Homan. Homan had previously threatened the arrest of anyone obstructing immigration enforcement — including Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In an interview with NBC News, Newsom challenged Homan directly, saying: “Arrest me, let’s go. Stop bluffing and just do it.”
Trump supported the idea:
“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” the president said. “Gavin likes the publicity, but he’s done a terrible job. Look, I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy — but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows that.”
According to Bloomberg, such rhetoric only escalates the conflict. What began as a legal and logistical dispute is quickly becoming a constitutional and political showdown between federal authority and state leadership.
The protests began on Friday after immigration raids swept across Los Angeles County. Demonstrators gathered at a downtown detention center and in suburban areas like Paramount and Compton. Protesters threw bottles and pieces of concrete at police, who responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades. The LAPD declared several unlawful assemblies and carried out arrests on charges ranging from arson to assault with deadly weapons.
By Sunday evening, the unrest intensified dramatically. As reported by KTLA, riots broke out in downtown LA, self-driving Waymo cars were set on fire, storefronts were shattered, and graffiti covered buildings. On Monday morning, Governor Newsom announced that he would sue to block the Trump administration’s order to deploy National Guard troops to the city, calling it an “illegal attempt to federalize state forces.”
“He fanned the flames and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard,” Newsom posted on X. “This doesn’t just apply to California — it sets a precedent for any state. We’re suing him.”
Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his decision in a Truth Social post, claiming that the deployment prevented the complete destruction of Los Angeles:
“If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated,” he wrote. “Bass and Newsom should be saying: ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR.’”
He referred to protesters as “professional agitators” and “insurrectionists” and blamed the unrest on the failure of local leadership.
Protests are still ongoing in the city, with two more demonstrations scheduled for Monday. Crowds continue to gather in areas affected by immigration enforcement. According to the U.S. Northern Command, 300 soldiers from California’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have already been deployed, and President Trump has authorized up to 2,000 troops if deemed necessary. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even suggested the possible deployment of U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton, which Newsom denounced as “deranged.”
Adding fuel to the fire, reports surfaced on Friday that the Trump administration is considering cutting federal funding to California over its policies — including the state’s stance on allowing transgender individuals to participate in women’s sports.
According to Bloomberg, the crisis in California is no longer just about public safety. It’s turning into a fundamental test of American federalism — a battle over states’ rights, federal overreach, and the political future of a deeply divided nation.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Bloomberg. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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