LOS ANGELES.–Showing he’s the toughest rooster to pick the best fight with 78-year-old President Donald Trump, 57-year-old California Gavin Newsom made headlines with a primetime address denouncing Trump’s moves to federalize the California National Guard. Newsom reprised former Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign talking points that Trump is destroying American democracy, trying to act as a fascist dictator. Newsom called Trump’s actions deploying federal troops to Los Angeles an “assault” on democracy, the exact wording used by Kamala. Newsom hopes to make a splash for himself for a possible run for president in 2028. “Look, this isn’t just about protests here in Los Angeles,” Ncwsom said. “When Donald Trump sough blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state. This is about all of us. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here.”
Newsom hopes to prevail in U.S. District Court in San Francisco before Judge Charles Breyer, brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. “Other states are next. Democracy is next,” Newsom said, making his political pitch to left groups getting ready to protest around the country June 14, Trump’s 79th birthday and military parade in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Continental Army. Trump dispatch 4,000 National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to aid law enforcement in protecting federal buildings and ICE and Homeland Security personnel conducting raids on illegal aliens at various locations. “Trump is pulling a military dragnet all across Los Angeles,” Newsom said. “Well beyond his stated intent to just go after violent and serious criminals, his agents are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers and seamstresses.”
Newsom’s diatribe clearly lets the Democrat Party know who they can use as a national voice to oppose the Trump White House. Newsom has had his past run-ins with Trump, only treating Trump with deference when he wants federal funds for disaster relief. Newsom gave the typical Democrats talking points against Trump how he violates the Constitution, flouts the rule of law, calling him a threat to American democracy. When it comes to Los Angeles, protests quickly morphed into vandalism, arson and looting, overwhelming local authorities, prompting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to call a curfew for several square blocks in downtown Los Angeles. If there were no problem Los Angeles, why would Bass declare a curfew and mobilize law enforcement to cordon off the area? Newsom acts like Trump acted in flagrant disregard to the disorder in Los Angeles.
Newsom wants to appear in charge of what’s happening in Los Angeles, telling Trump to take ICE an Homeland Security out of California. Newsom has been an advocate of open borders, sanctuary cities and signed a law granting Medicaid to illegal aliens. Whatever that costs the state, California certainly can afford the price tag currently running a $58 billion deficit. When it comes to Los Angeles, Bass admitted the hooliganism that broke out in downtown, with over 30 businesses looted, Waymo robot taxis burned on the streets and other acts of mayhem. Rep. Maxim Waters (D-Calif.) said there was no violence in Los Angeles, agreeing with Newsom that the National Guard and Marines were unwarranted. “A president who wants to be bound by no law or constitution,” Newsom said. Newsom’s speech sounded right out of Kamala’s 2024 playbook.
Newsom doesn’t like the fact that Trump makes him look incompetent, a failed governor with more problems in the state when he took over from former Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown. While Newsom eyes a 2028 run, his Democrats colleagues know the liability of running for president as California governor. Newsom leaves a legacy of homelessness and now anarchy sweeping the streets of downtown Los Angeles. A recent CBS poll showed that 54% of respondents approved of Trump actions to federalize the National Guard and send Marines to Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said that his department does not enforce federal immigration laws in policing the streets of Los Angeles. So, whatever looting, vandalism, rioting and arson it’s the streets of Los Angeles, it’s still the LAPD’s responsibility, regardless of the National Guard and Marines.
Newsom hopes he can get a temporary restraining order from Judge Charles Breyer on Thursday to stop Trump from federalizing the National Guard and using the Marines to help restore order in downtown Los Angeles. “Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves,” Newsom said. “But they do not stop there. Trump and his loyalists, they thrive on division, because it allows them to take more power and exert even more control,” Newsom said, making more Kamala-like campaign speeches. If looting, riots, arson and vandalism didn’t break out in downtown Los Angeles, federal troops wouldn’t be needed as a back-up. Newsom preaches to the leftist choir that plans nationwide protests June 14, this time calling it “No Kings Day” protests. Newsom threw his hat in the ring for 2028 but is anyone really listening to him?
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
