Tensions Rise as Border Patrol Presence Disrupts Newsom’s Anti-Trump Rally in Los Angeles

Federal law enforcement made a rare and highly visible appearance outside a political rally in Los Angeles on Thursday, drawing both outrage and speculation. U.S. Border Patrol agents, some masked and armed, were seen outside California Governor Gavin Newsom’s high-profile “Liberation Day” event, where he announced efforts to challenge Republican redistricting strategies in Texas.

At least one individual was arrested during the demonstration, according to footage captured by Fox 11 and later aired on Fox News. The video showed a group of Border Patrol agents escorting a man in handcuffs while protestors nearby shouted in disapproval.

The rally, hosted by Governor Newsom—widely considered a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028—was designed to spotlight what he called a “direct response” to Republican attempts to reshape congressional districts in red states. In a post on social media before the event, Newsom warned, “Donald Trump and Greg Abbott are going to have a very bad day today,” referencing both the former president and the current Republican governor of Texas.

However, the governor’s political message quickly took a back seat to the unexpected presence of federal agents. Speaking to Fox 11, Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino defended his agency’s actions.

“We’re here making Los Angeles a safer place,” Bovino said. “Since we won’t have politicians who will do that, we do that ourselves. That’s why we’re here today.”

Bovino added that the agency had no plans to leave, asserting, “We’re glad to be here, not going anywhere.”

When asked if he had a message for Governor Newsom, Bovino doubled down: “We’re making Los Angeles safer, and they can take that one to the bank and cash it.”

Newsom’s office issued a fiery response to Fox News Digital, blasting the federal presence near his rally. “WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY WEAK LITTLE DONALD TRUMP, THE CRIMINAL PRESIDENT!” the governor’s office wrote in an all-caps email.

The political drama escalated on social media, where Newsom’s team accused federal authorities of unlawful conduct. One post declared, “TRUMP’S PRIVATE ARMY IS ILLEGALLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY!!!!” Despite the heated rhetoric, no legal steps were taken by Newsom or city officials to remove the Border Patrol agents from the area.

Speaking to the crowd during the rally, Newsom acknowledged the agents’ proximity and questioned their timing.

“Right outside, at this exact moment, are dozens and dozens of ICE agents,” he said. “Do you think it’s coincidental?”

He criticized the federal operation, suggesting it may have been politically motivated. “Donald Trump and his minions, Tom Homan, tough guy—decided, coincidentally or not, that this was the place to stage ICE arrests. Indiscriminate? Perhaps. We’ll find out later.”

He urged the public to stay vigilant, calling the moment “serious” and symbolic of a larger political struggle.

“Wake up, America,” Newsom said. “Wake up to what’s going on. Wake up to the fear and anxiety being used as political weapons. This isn’t just about Los Angeles—it’s about Trump’s America, where the streets are militarized and due process is tossed aside.”

Meanwhile, Governor Newsom is facing political setbacks on another front. As part of his push to counter Republican-led redistricting in states like Texas, Newsom has proposed shifting California’s redistricting authority from an independent commission back to the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature—at least temporarily.

However, a new poll suggests voters aren’t on board with the plan.

A survey conducted by POLITICO, in partnership with the Citrin Center and Possibility Lab, found that 64% of registered California voters support keeping the state’s independent redistricting commission. Only 36% favored returning that power to lawmakers.

Support for maintaining the commission was consistent across political lines: 66% of Republicans, 61% of Democrats, and 72% of independents all opposed giving redistricting power back to the legislature.

The poll results present a significant hurdle for Newsom, who has argued that giving California Democrats more control over the process would help level the playing field as Republicans make similar moves in red states.

As political tensions rise ahead of the 2024 election, Thursday’s events in Los Angeles underscore the deepening divisions between state and federal authorities—and between competing visions of American democracy.

With the presence of Border Patrol at a campaign-style event and heated accusations flying between state and federal leaders, the stage appears set for a prolonged and contentious political battle—both in California and across the nation.