America just got another dose of high-stakes political drama... and this time, it’s coming straight out of California.
President Donald Trump made headlines on Monday after saying he would support the arrest of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The reason? Newsom challenged federal actions taken during a weekend of violent unrest in Los Angeles... and Trump is not backing down.
“I would do it,” Trump said when asked about Newsom daring the administration to arrest him. “I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy... but he’s grossly incompetent. Everybody knows it.”
But Trump didn’t stop there.
Who Are the 'Insurrectionists'?
During a heated press conference on the White House lawn, Trump turned his attention to the demonstrators who filled the streets of LA in response to recent immigration raids.
“The people that are causing problems are professional agitators and insurrectionists,” Trump declared. “They’re bad people. They should be in jail.”
Riots erupted over the weekend in a largely Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles after ICE agents arrested over 100 undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security later revealed the arrests included child sex offenders, gang members, and individuals they labeled national security threats.
While some cheered the operation, others saw it as a spark that lit the powder keg of an already tense city.
National Guard... Federalized?
In a move that shocked many local leaders, Trump used his authority to federalize the California National Guard..effectively taking control from the state and placing it under Washington’s command.
It was a bold move... one that Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass quickly condemned.
“This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted,” Newsom wrote on social media. “He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard.”
His statement ended with a legal threat: “We’re suing him.”
Mayor Karen Bass also voiced strong opposition, accusing Trump of escalating the situation for political gain.
A War of Words Turns Personal
What really set the fire ablaze was an earlier interview Newsom gave on MSNBC, where he directly challenged Tom Homan...Trump’s border czar...to come arrest him.
“Come and arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy. I don’t give a damn,” Newsom said in the interview.
This wasn’t just political theater... it felt personal.
And Trump, never one to let a challenge go unanswered, responded with what some interpreted as an actual threat: that he’d back Homan if he went forward with arrests.
The Bigger Picture: 2024 in the Background
It’s no secret Gavin Newsom has presidential ambitions. And Trump...already running his 2024 campaign... likely sees the California governor as a future rival.
This latest clash could be as much about power and perception as it is about policy.
By labeling the protesters “insurrectionists,” Trump invoked a term most Americans now associate with January 6. Whether intentional or not, it draws a line between those who support federal authority and those he sees as resisting it...even if they’re elected governors.
Can the Insurrection Act Be Used?
One question Trump didn’t answer directly was whether he’d invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, a rare but powerful law that allows the president to deploy the military to suppress civil unrest on U.S. soil.
When asked by reporters, Trump avoided the question... but left the door open.
Legal scholars are already debating whether his federalization of the National Guard is a soft step toward invoking that law.
If he does, it would mark one of the most aggressive uses of presidential power in modern history.
What Happens Next?
As of now, the streets in Los Angeles are calmer, but the situation remains fragile. More protests are planned, and tensions between state and federal officials continue to climb.
Newsom’s legal team is already preparing lawsuits, and political commentators are watching closely to see if Trump’s comments were just rhetoric or the beginning of something much bigger.
Some believe it’s just Trump being Trump...making bold statements for attention. Others think he’s testing how far he can push executive authority ahead of the 2024 election.
One thing’s for sure... this won’t be the last time these two face off.
Trump don’t hold back when he feel challenged. And Newsom, well, he’s clearly not stepping down neither.
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