Newsom Critiques Trump During South Carolina Visit
California Governor Gavin Newsom took aim at President Trump during his recent trip to South Carolina, declaring, “we won’t let him win.” This statement came as he emphasized that American citizens are living through a pivotal moment in history.
On the first day of his two-day visit to the Palmetto State, Newsom expressed concerns that Trump’s administration might push the country back to a pre-1960s era concerning voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and women’s rights. “We can’t allow him to win, so I’m here,” he asserted to an audience in Kershaw County.
Newsom had previously announced a tour titled “On The Road with Governor Gavin Newsom,” which landed him in South Carolina on Tuesday and Wednesday. Significantly, this state was the first to cast votes in the Democratic nomination process for 2024 and will again play a key role in the upcoming 2028 primary.
Over recent years, Newsom has been growing his national presence, even garnering attention as a potential president before the 2024 elections. His rivalry with Trump has led to a series of public exchanges.
As Newsom addressed the crowd, he had just departed from Los Angeles, a city where Trump recently deployed thousands of National Guard troops to manage protests related to actions by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). The governor expressed hope that Trump would issue a statement to honor the anniversary of devastating winter wildfires that claimed 30 lives, especially as Texas recently faced floods leading to over 100 fatalities.
Additionally, he remarked on Trump celebrating the Fourth of July, urging the president to acknowledge that the nation should come together, filled with humility. However, Newsom criticized Trump for instead sending National Guard members equipped with military gear to California, particularly in the context of recent events at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had interactions with federal agents in the park on Monday after ICE described its enforcement project as a significant operation. “I wasn’t arrested,” Newsom remarked, describing the actions taken during this period as cruel and aimed at generating indifference and cynicism among the public.
