Protests against the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration have escalated in Los Angeles (LA), leading to a confrontation between U.S. President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom. President Trump has suggested the possibility of arresting Governor Newsom. However, Trump and Newsom were not always antagonistic toward each other.
Newsom forged a connection with Trump when, as the governor-elect in 2018, he toured wildfire damage areas alongside then-California Governor Jerry Brown (Democrat). According to The Washington Post (WP), although Newsom is a member of the Democratic Party, Trump’s staff reported that Trump and Newsom quickly became close during the wildfire site visit.
The relationship between the two deteriorated in January of the following year when a major wildfire broke out in California. At that time, the federal government was in a 'shutdown' state, and Trump announced that he would cut off the government’s wildfire assistance to California.
Trump claimed, "Billions of dollars have been sent to California for wildfire recovery, but if the state had managed its forests properly, funding would not have been necessary." In the fall of the same year, California faced more wildfires, and Trump once again refused federal funding, criticizing Newsom for "not properly managing forests."
Newsom did not remain silent. He countered Trump, asserting that Trump "does not believe in climate change." He attributed the cause of the wildfires to climate change. When a major wildfire broke out earlier this year in Los Angeles (LA), Newsom condemned Trump, who was claiming incompetence, stating, "We should not politicize human tragedy or spread false information based on uncertain facts."
The two also clashed over immigration issues. California is traditionally known as a 'sanctuary city' that is friendly to immigrants. After taking office in 2019, Newsom reduced the number of National Guard troops stationed at the southern border, and when Trump declared a national emergency to build a wall at the southern border, he, along with 16 other states, sued the Trump administration.
Newsom has consistently pushed for pro-immigrant policies. He advocated for low-income government health insurance 'Medi-Cal' enrollment for undocumented immigrants. Providing health insurance for undocumented individuals required a massive budget, and last month, Newsom requested lawmakers to reduce the scope of benefits, placing the blame on Trump, citing that Trump cut a budget of $16 billion.
The two also clashed over the COVID-19 issue. When COVID-19 spread in 2020, Newsom posted on social media (SNS) recommending that people continue to wear masks even during meals. In response, Trump mocked Newsom's policy, saying, "California has a special mask. You cannot take it off under any circumstances."
The long-running karma between Trump and Newsom is interpreted as being based on the perception that both are strong competitors. Newsom was mentioned as a potential successor when President Joe Biden faltered due to age and cognitive controversies during last year's presidential election, and he is currently considered a leading Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
WP reported, "California's leftist policies have frequently been a target of criticism during Trump's first presidential campaign, and Newsom has voiced active resistance to Trump since taking office," adding that "Trump has warned that he will continue to attack California policies in various areas, from water management to voter identification."