With tensions continuing to escalate between President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom, the former has seemingly endorsed the idea that his administration could arrest the California governor.
Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” said over the weekend that anyone who impedes federal immigration operations would be arrested. He said that warning extended to “anybody” after he was asked specifically if that included Newsom or L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
Newsom responded defiantly.
“He knows where to find me,” Newsom said. “That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
Trump, when asked about Newsom’s response, suggested that he would be OK with his administration arresting the Democratic governor.
“I would do it if I were Tom,” Trump said. “I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.
“He’s done a terrible job,” Trump added. “I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent.”
Q: “Gavin Newsom is, he’s daring Tom Homan to come and arrest him. Should he do it?”
President Trump: “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. He’s done a terrible job.” pic.twitter.com/JU8OCWitdM
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 9, 2025
The comments were just the latest in an increasingly volatile feud between Trump and Newsom as the federal government has ramped up immigration enforcement efforts around Southern California and large-scale protests have broken out.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta dismissed Trump’s comments later Monday.
“It’s more talk, more bluff, more bluster, more threats,” Bonta said, accusing the Trump administration of breaking the law rather than his counterpart.
Bonta and Newsom, meanwhile, announced they are filing a lawsuit against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday over their federalization of the California National Guard. They called the federalization unlawful, given that Newsom was not given the opportunity to give consent for the move. The lawsuit also alleged that federalizing the National Guard deprives California of the resources it may need to protect its residents and infringes on Newsom’s role as commander-in-chief of the California National Guard.
“President Trump’s order calling federalized National Guard troops into Los Angeles — over the objections of the governor and local law enforcement — is unnecessary and counterproductive,” Bonta said. “It’s also deeply unfair to the members of the National Guard who are hard at work every day protecting our state, preparing for and responding to emergencies and training so that, if called, they can fight our nation’s wars.”
