President Trump said Monday he would support the idea of arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom, following escalating tensions over immigration protests in Los Angeles. The comments came after Newsom publicly dared White House border czar Tom Homan to go through with the threat.
Speaking to reporters upon returning to the White House from Camp David, Trump was asked whether Homan should arrest Newsom, a suggestion that had circulated over the weekend as unrest continued in L.A. “I would do it if I were Tom,” Trump said. “I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. Look, I like Gavin. He’s a nice guy. But he’s grossly incompetent.”
Newsom quickly fired back on social media, calling Trump’s remarks a dangerous step. “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,” he 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.”
The clash is the latest development in an intensifying feud between the Trump administration and California officials over federal immigration enforcement. Over the past week, protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles have escalated, with incidents of violence, property damage, and confrontations with police.
The White House has pointed to images of burning vehicles and clashes with law enforcement as evidence that the situation has spiraled out of control. In response, Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to the region without Newsom’s consent. The governor has since announced plans to sue the federal government, accusing Trump of escalating the crisis and undermining local authorities.
In a defiant interview with MSNBC on Sunday, Newsom challenged the administration: “Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy. I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community.”
Trump and Homan have warned that state and local leaders could face legal consequences if they obstruct federal law enforcement. Trump also told reporters Monday that many of the protesters were “professional agitators” and “insurrectionists,” saying, “They’re bad people. They should be in jail.”
When asked if he would invoke the Insurrection Act to respond to the unrest, Trump did not answer.