Trump Considers Arresting Governor Newsom Amid Protests
President Donald Trump indicated he might consider arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom if his administration undermined ICE operations during the protests in Los Angeles. This remark came during a brief interaction with reporters after Trump stepped off Marine One near the White House.
Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump whether he should heed Newsom’s “dare” to arrest him. Doocy referenced Newsom’s previous actions against Trump associate Tom Homan, asking, “Should he do that?”
Trump responded, “I’ll do that, I was Tom.” He expressed his views on Newsom’s leadership, stating, “I think it’s great. Gavin likes advertising. But he’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom; he’s a good guy, but he’s grossly incompetent. Everyone knows.”
Trump raised concerns that many of the individuals involved in the Los Angeles protests are actually professional agitators rather than genuine protesters. “The people causing the problem are professional agitators. They are rebels. They are bad people. They should be in prison,” he said.
In quick response to Trump’s statements, Newsom took to social media, expressing disbelief: “The US President just asked for the arrest of the sitting governor. This is the day I wanted to never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican.”
Homan appeared on “Fox & Friends,” where he clarified that while he stated “no one crossed the law,” there was no immediate discussion of arresting Newsom. He emphasized that while protests are a right, crossing certain lines—like harming law enforcement or obstructing justice—constitutes a crime. He acknowledged the legality of protests but maintained that illegal actions should not be tolerated.
Homan later remarked that he meant to convey that anyone who engaged in criminal activity would face consequences but reiterated that there had been no talk of arresting the governor specifically.
Trump has mobilized 2,000 National Guard members to assist in managing the unrest, hoping to address concerns arising from the actions of local Democratic officials as tensions continue to rise.
