In the United States, Los Angeles (LA) is witnessing a showdown between President Donald Trump and Democratic Party's likely next presidential candidate, California Governor Gavin Newsom, sparked by protests against the crackdown on illegal immigrants.
After Trump sent in the National Guard without the governor's consent, citing the need to suppress the LA protests, Newsom immediately countered, saying, "The military deployment is a deliberate provocation and an escalatory measure."
Local media reported that Newsom is more clearly demonstrating his rebellious nature against the establishment, which he has opposed for nearly 30 years since entering politics. Analyses also suggest that based on this political philosophy, he is consolidating his image as a progressive resistance politician at the forefront of the anti-Trump camp.
The conflict between President Trump and Governor Newsom erupted on the 9th, marking a pivotal moment with controversial comments about arrests.
On that day, Trump criticized the state governments of LA for not responding adequately to the protests, saying, "If I were in charge, I would arrest (Newsom)."
Newsom immediately tweeted, "The President of the United States just ordered the arrest of a sitting governor," and added, "Whether a Democrat or a Republican, this is a line that should not be crossed by any American. It is an obvious step toward authoritarianism."
Newsom is currently the individual within the Democratic Party who has most clearly raised the banner against Trump. After entering politics in 1996, Newsom became the Mayor of San Francisco in 2004.
After taking office as mayor, Newsom ordered the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, defying federal law and shaking up American society. At that time, even veteran senators from the Democratic Party advised Newsom against it, saying, "(Same-sex marriage) will hurt the party."
However, he pushed forward, stating it was the "right thing to do." Ultimately, 11 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Following this, Newsom's political career advanced rapidly. After serving as California's lieutenant governor, he became the governor in 2019, significantly raising his profile. This confrontation with Trump is also interpreted as an example of this tendency.
His rebellious nature is not unrelated to his unique upbringing. Newsom is a fourth-generation descendant of a prominent family in San Francisco.
However, he grew up under a single mother after his parents divorced. During his childhood, he struggled with severe dyslexia. Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs the ability to read and comprehend words or sentences. He still experiences difficulties due to his severe dyslexia during speeches.
Newsom's father was part of the elite class that connected with the Getty family, a wealthy oil dynasty. However, he himself was not financially well off. Despite bearing the name of a prestigious family, his alienating experience of being marginalized in reality later became a factor that focused his policies on the underprivileged after he rose to a pivotal position in the Democratic Party, analysts say.
In responding to this incident, Newsom also showcased his direct remarks without filter.
In an MSNBC interview on the 9th, Newsom revealed, "I had a very polite phone conversation with Trump for about 20 minutes on the night of the 8th, but he never mentioned the situation in LA and did not bring up the National Guard deployment at all." Typically, the details of conversations between a president and a governor are not publicly disclosed.
He characterized the military-led harsh crackdown on protests as a "betrayal." He further stated, "This goes beyond immigration issues; it concerns authoritarian tendencies, control and commands, power and ego," and added, "Trump has abandoned the core principles of our great democracy."
To Trump, California is like a thorn in his side.
Thanks to its geographical proximity to Mexico, California has a large number of Latin American immigrants. The governor also hails from the Democratic Party, which traditionally adheres to progressive policies, like Newsom.
For Trump, who advocates strong crackdowns on illegal immigration and the repeal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) policies, California and Governor Newsom are directly opposing the government's policy stance. Governor Newsom also took independent action by signing an executive order to ban the sale of gasoline vehicles by 2035, contrary to federal policies on climate change.
Major media outlets have reported that this incident has helped Newsom build an image as "a strong leader who does not back down against absolute power."
In the Democratic Party, which has been struggling to find a clear focal point, Newsom has rapidly emerged as a viable alternative to build anti-Trump sentiment.
The Democratic Party in the United States is currently facing a serious leadership vacuum. Since last year's election defeat, a clear figure to lead the party has yet to emerge.
Internally, even 83-year-old Bernie Sanders is mentioned as a potential candidate for the next presidential election. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others are considered younger potential candidates, but they have yet to show a presence that encompasses the entire party.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported, "This incident is an inevitable confrontation between the political style that Newsom has consistently shown for 30 years and Trump," adding, "This is an opportunity for Newsom to solidify his position as a candidate for the next presidential election by rallying support from the Democratic base."