In a recent statement, Tom Homan, who serves as President Donald Trump's border czar, clarified that there are currently no plans to arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom. This announcement comes after Homan previously warned that state officials who impede federal immigration enforcement could face obstruction of justice charges. In response, Newsom took to social media, asserting, "Trump’s border czar is threatening to arrest me for speaking out. Come and get me, tough guy."
During an appearance on CNN, Homan was asked whether Governor Newsom had engaged in actions that would justify an arrest. Homan firmly stated, "Absolutely not," indicating that at this moment, there is no basis for such actions against the governor.
In light of the increasing tensions, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has publicly urged officials to halt the ongoing immigration raids. On social media platform X, she expressed her concerns regarding the impact of these raids on the community. "There is a real fear in Los Angeles right now. Parents, workers, grandparents, and young people are scared to go about their daily lives," Bass stated. She emphasized that Los Angeles is a city of immigrants and criticized Washington for attacking the city's residents, neighborhoods, and economy.
Retired Lt Gen Russel Honoré, a former National Guard officer, has condemned Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles. In an interview with BBC's Newsday, Honoré described the deployment as unnecessary and an escalation by the White House. He remarked, "There are 10 million people in LA County, and we're talking about two small areas with maybe a few thousand protesters in each area. We see larger protests when the Dodgers win the World Series."
In a shocking incident, footage has emerged showing a police officer firing a rubber bullet at an Australian journalist, Lauren Tomasi, while she was reporting on the unrest in Los Angeles. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident as "horrific." He affirmed the importance of protecting journalists, stating that there was no ambiguity that Tomasi was performing her duties. Albanese has already raised these concerns with the US administration and expressed that such actions are unacceptable.
The escalating feud between President Trump and Governor Newsom has dominated headlines. Trump took to his Truth Social account, labeling Newsom as "incompetent" and suggesting that Los Angeles would be "obliterated" without his leadership. He sarcastically implied that Newsom and Bass should express gratitude towards him for their city's safety.
Following Trump's comments about a potential arrest, Newsom did not hold back. He referred to Trump's remarks as an "unmistakable step toward authoritarianism" and challenged him directly on social media, stating, "Arrest me. Let’s get it over with, tough guy." This bold assertion underlines the contentious relationship between the two leaders.
In a dramatic escalation, Trump accused Newsom of inciting riots and warned that any aggression towards the National Guard would be met with a strong response. In contrast, Newsom labeled Trump's actions as dictatorial, criticizing the activation of Marines in Los Angeles as a "deranged fantasy" and un-American. He urged Trump to "grow up" in his remarks.
In a significant move, Governor Newsom has announced plans to sue the Trump administration regarding the deployment of US Marines to Los Angeles. He argued that this deployment is illegal and a political maneuver to bolster Trump's image. Newsom emphasized the vital role of US Marines in defending democracy and asserted that they should not be used as political tools, stating, "We will sue to stop this."
