California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a pointed address Tuesday targeting President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to manage protests in Los Angeles. Newsom, a potential presidential candidate in 2028, criticized Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics during a national address following several days of clashes between law enforcement and protesters.
“This is about all of us. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next,” Newsom warned, emphasizing that democracy is under threat. He argued that authoritarian regimes typically begin by targeting the most vulnerable populations, a warning he believes reflects the current situation.
Trump had activated thousands of National Guard members without a request from Newsom and sent over 700 Marines to assist in managing the unrest, which began Friday. In response, Trump has been openly critical of Newsom, even suggesting he should be arrested and calling him “grossly incompetent.”
In his speech, Newsom asserted that Trump perpetuates division and that his record shows a willingness to support violence for personal gain, referencing the January 6 Capitol riot. “The rule of law has increasingly been given way to the rule of Don,” he remarked, underscoring his belief in a troubling shift in governance.
As protests escalated, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell reported rising unrest, with 378 arrests since Saturday. A curfew was imposed in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. Protests against Trump’s immigration policies have spread to cities across the U.S., including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta, illustrating widespread dissent against federal immigration enforcement efforts.
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