Los Angeles protests: Donald Trump claims Gavin Newsom ‘committed a crime’ running for governor; California leader hits back, calls Trump a ‘dictator’
US President Donald Trump intensified his public clash with California governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, suggesting the Democrat should be arrested.The MAGA supremo accused Newsom of being a failed leader amid escalating immigration protests in Los Angeles.Responding to a reporter’s question on what crime Newsom had committed to warrant arrest, Trump said, “I think his primary crime is running for governor because he’s done such a bad job. What he’s done to that state is like what Biden’s done to this country.”The comment followed a weekend of rising tensions after Trump deployed thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the state’s consent.On Monday, Trump returned to the White House from Camp David and addressed the media on the South Lawn, where he appeared to endorse former immigration official Tom Homan’s recent remarks about possibly arresting Newsom. “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters.Newsom quickly hit back, sharing a video of Trump’s comment on Instagram and calling it a turning point for the country. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor,” he wrote. “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.” On X, he added, “These are the acts of a dictator, not a President.”Homan, speaking on Fox News, clarified that there had been “no discussion” about arresting Newsom or Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, although he had previously said that “no one’s above the law.” He stressed that criminal acts, such as interfering with federal officers or damaging property, would be prosecuted by the Trump administration.Speaker of the House Mike Johnson voiced his support for Trump’s remarks and deployment of federal troops. “We have to maintain the rule of law, and if the state and local leaders are unable or unwilling to do so, it is the job of the federal government to step in,” Johnson said.Despite his past assertion that governors must request National Guard deployments, Trump has changed his stance, claiming the situation in California justified federal action. “The biggest change from that statement is we have an incompetent governor,” he told reporters.Shortly after Trump’s comments, officials confirmed that 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms had been ordered into Los Angeles. Their specific role has yet to be outlined.Furthermore, the Pentagon confirmed that Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 more National Guard troops to Los Angeles.Newsom said the state was suing the Trump administration over what he described as the illegal federalisation of the National Guard. “The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA. It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing,” Newsom said.
