Border Patrol Response to Governor Newsom’s Criticism

Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino addressed remarks made by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who commented that officials from the Trump administration seemed to dress like they were wearing “SS wear.”

In an interview with NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert,” Bovino clarified, “That coat was definitely issued by the Border Patrol.” He elaborated that he has owned the coat for about 25 years, having purchased it back when he was a young agent in around 1999.

This week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Newsom crudely compared Bovino’s long olive green trench coat to attire worn by Nazi Germany. He went as far as to say Bovino appeared as if he had “literally gone on eBay and bought an SS costume.” Furthermore, Newsom criticized the methods employed by Bovino and other federal agents to apprehend undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis.

Bovino’s response to this was rather reflective. He mentioned that just five or six years ago, he wore that same coat to a formal event at Customs and Border Protection headquarters in D.C. and received nothing but positive feedback. It’s interesting how perceptions can shift, I suppose.

Newsom’s office accused Bovino of “walking the streets of America dressed as a Nazi,” which understandably raised eyebrows. But Bovino maintained that he hasn’t encountered issues with the coat until the recent administration. “What has changed there? Why is it an issue now?” he questioned, noting the difference in reception over the years.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, backed Bovino, stating in a release that the coat is simply a “standard winter uniform for the Border Patrol.” She added that while legitimate policy discussions are important, equating law enforcement with Nazis or the Gestapo is “extremely dangerous.”