Demonstrating confrontational rhetoric against Trump, Newsom urges Democrats in search of a commanding figurehead
Firing Back at the Big Man: Newsom's Takedown of Trump
California Gov. Gavin Newsom fought his way into the spotlight Wednesday, delivering a scathing speech that took no prisoners - particularly President Donald Trump. And let's face it, some Democrats are loving every damn minute of it.
"The rule of law has increasingly given way to the rule of Don,” he said, going in hard on Trump for sending the military to quell protests in Los Angeles. "The founding fathers did not live and die to see this moment. It's time for all of us to stand up," Newsom declared in his eight-minute speech, flanked by the California and U.S. flags.
Newsom's message was clear: Democracy is under siege, and Trump's the culprit. "What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him," he pleaded to his potentially millions of viewers watching on cable news channels.
Democrats have been yearning for a leader to rally around and, well, Newsom seems happy to oblige. "We want somebody to fight, and so he's been fighting, and it's been glorious to watch," RL Miller, an environmental activist and Democratic National Committee superdelegate, told our website.
California, dear America, has become the battleground between Newsom and Trump that many didn't see coming. The governor's verbal combat with the Trump administration didn't start with his speech - it's been an ongoing war. Earlier in the week, he called out Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, for suggesting anyone who blocked the administration's immigration crackdown should be apprehended, even Newsom himself.
"Come after me, arrest me. Let's just get this over with, tough guy," Newsom snapped at NBC News.
Newsom's fiery resistance has earned him support from national Democrats, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer publicly backing the governor's standoff with Trump. In fact, they think Trump's trying to intimidate Newsom.
"All I add is President Trump is trying to intimidate Gavin Newsom," Schumer sniped. "He has shown he's not going to be intimidated, and we're all for that, all for him and proud that he is refusing to be intimidated by Donald Trump."
In the world of victim-blaming, the White House isn't letting Newsom off the hook. Trump lambasted the governor on his social media platform Monday, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have "failed their citizens."
Leavitt argued Newsom "owns" the images of violent protests.
What's next for Newsom? He's term-limited and hasn't ruled out a 2028 presidential bid. Even so, he's not the only Democratic governor positioning himself as tough on Trump. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have travelled to South Carolina to discuss their records with voters, though both insist they're not running for the White House this time around.
Still, your boy Newsom seems to be shooting to the top. Some operatives in Trump's orbit even see him as the long-sought leader of the Democratic Party.
Trump political adviser, Steve Bannon, told the New York Times that Newsom's speech was "a kickoff to his 2028 campaign."
Sources:
- Los Angeles Times: Newsom Orders California to Set Up its Own Electric Car Regulations
- Politico: Gavin Newsom's Problems Could Dog a 2028 Presidential Run
- The Hill: Questions Swirl around Newsom's Leadership and 2028 Hopes
- California Governor Gavin Newsom has become a vocal critic in the political arena, particularly against President Donald Trump, causing some Democrats to enthusiastically support his leadership.
- Newsom's confrontational approach towards the Trump administration, seen in his verbal combat over immigration policies and his criticism of the president for deployment of military forces during protests, signifies an ongoing conflict between the two parties.
- As the governor politically positions himself, there are discussions suggesting that he might consider a presidential bid in 2028, positioning him as a potential frontrunner for the Democratic Party.
- Trump's political advisor, Steve Bannon, reportedly views Newsom's speech as a starting point for his 2028 presidential campaign.
- On environmental issues, Newsom's efforts, such as ordering California to establish its own electric car regulations, reflect his commitment to the cause.
- The ongoing struggle between Newsom and Trump has spilled into various domains, including general news, crime and justice, and even war and conflicts, with the White House and Newsom trade barbs on social media platforms and public statements.
