Donald Trump responded to California Governor Gavin Newsom‘s dare to administration officials to arrest him, with the president suggesting that he would support such a move by his border czar, Tom Homan.
“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “Gavin likes the publicity … but he’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent. Everybody knows.”
On Saturday, Homan threatened the arrest of even public officials who tried to obstruct immigration enforcement raids in Los Angeles. With protests unfolding over the weekend, Trump ordered the National Guard to the city, in what Newsom and others said was an overreaction that would inflame the situation.
As protests continued on Sunday, with scenes of some burning vehicles playing on cable TV and law enforcement trying to quell the demonstration. Disbursement non-lethal shots, flash bangs, and gas canisters were heard being fired over the crowd by the cops.
Newsom was asked by NBC News and MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff about Homan’s comments, and told him, “Come after me. Arrest me.”
“Why doesn’t he do that? He’s a tough guy. He knows where to find me.”
Trump claimed in a Truth Social post this morning that had they not called in the National Guard, “Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”
But a number of media commentators have noted the relative calm in the sprawling region throughout the weekend, which included the LA Pride parade and festivities.
Newsom has expressed alarm by Trump’s move to federalize the guard. The president’s order was not specific to Los Angeles, and it has generated warnings that it could open the door to future efforts by the administration to curb protests.
“They are trying to incite violence,” Newsom said. “They are trying to impose the kind of rhetoric that only makes conditions worse.”
“This is about authoritarian tendencies. This is about command and control. This is about ego,” Newsom said.
Newsom also said that the state is planning to sue the administration, as he was not consulted on the National Guard decision.
