California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly mocked President Donald Trump after Trump suggested he might send troops to California again.
Why It Matters
Trump faced heavy criticism from Newsom and other California Democrats in June when he sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during protests against his immigration policies.
Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, has recently become one of Trump’s biggest critics. He often mocks Trump by copying his all-caps and self-praising social media posts.
What To Know
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he might deploy more troops to California, saying Newsom “didn’t want us there and he’s going to need us again because it’s starting to form again. I see it.”
“You know, we have to maintain, it’s like maintenance on an airplane,” Trump added. “You can buy it, but you have to maintain it.”
Newsom quickly responded on X:
“So you can have them sleep on the floor again? We’re good,” he wrote, sharing a photo showing federal troops sleeping on the floor during their last deployment to California.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: “LA would’ve burned to the ground if it weren’t for President Trump. Newscum was too busy sipping wine at a Napa fundraiser to take any action to protect law enforcement officers from his violent rioters – and now he’s trying to rewrite history.”
Trump’s suggestion came hours after a federal judge ruled that the administration broke an 1878 law by sending the troops in June.
After California, Trump sent troops from different agencies to Washington, D.C., upsetting local residents and drawing criticism from political opponents.
Newsom criticized Trump’s decision, saying: “His state of mind doesn’t seem to be focused on the issue of crime and violence. It’s about an expression of authoritarianism.”
He added he hopes people notice Trump’s comments where he said, “a lot of people are saying, ‘Maybe we like a dictator.'”
What People Are Saying
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled: “The evidence at trial established that Defendants systematically used armed soldiers [whose identity was often obscured by protective armor] and military vehicles to set up protective perimeters and traffic blockades, engage in crowd control, and otherwise demonstrate a military presence in and around Los Angeles.
“In short, Defendants violated the Posse Comitatus Act.”
A White House spokesperson responded: “Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction.”
What Happens Next
It is not clear if or when Trump will send more troops to California, or how Breyer’s ruling might affect his plans.
