Trump Urges Border Czar to Arrest Gov. Newsom Amid ICE Protests

President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that Tom Homan, the White House Border Czar, should arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom, escalating tensions between the federal government and the Democratic governor over recent anti‑ICE demonstrations.

Speaking briefly to reporters outside the White House on Monday, Trump was asked whether Homan should act should Newsom “dare” him. “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump replied. “Gavin likes the publicity. I like Gavin Newsom. He is a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent. Everybody knows that. All you have to do is look at the little railroad he is building. It’s about 100 times over budget.”

When pressed on the demonstrators in Los Angeles harassing ICE officers, Trump described them as “professional agitators” and “insurrectionists,” adding: “They’re bad people. They should be in jail.”

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Protests and Clashes in Los Angeles

The remarks come during a period of heightened unrest in Los Angeles, where wave after wave of anti-ICE protests have erupted in recent weeks. Demonstrators have heckled, spat at, and otherwise confronted ICE personnel during enforcement actions—raising tensions between federal agents and local jurisdictions.

In response to escalating demonstrations, Trump authorized the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. He has also floated invoking the Insurrection Act as a mechanism to restore order in the city.

Speaking in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, Trump criticized the protest tactics. He cast the protests as orchestrated efforts by provocateurs aiming to disrupt enforcement of federal immigration law.

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National Guard, Federal Forces, and State Resistance

The president’s decision to federalize nearly 2,000 California National Guard troops drew immediate backlash from state leaders. He also placed 500 U.S. Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton on standby. The move underscores the widening rift between federal and state officials over enforcement measures and public order.

Notably, Gov. Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declined to deploy state or city resources to assist ICE during these campaigns, prompting criticism from the White House. Trump has framed their refusal as an abdication of responsibility.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris weighed in as well, condemning the deployment of National Guardsmen to Los Angeles and characterizing it as a dangerous escalation. Harris said the administration’s actions were intended to provoke fear rather than ensure public safety.

“Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos,” she said in a statement. She claimed that the administration’s approach is part of a “cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.” Despite evidence of violence, she described many protests as “mostly peaceful.”

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Legal and Political Stakes

Trump’s public call for Newsom’s arrest is unprecedented, highlighting how segregation of powers and jurisdictional constraints may soon be tested in unexpected ways. A sitting governor is generally protected from such federal arrest except under exceptional circumstances, such as when acting in a way that violates federal law or court orders. The prospect of a federal agent arresting a sitting governor could pose serious legal and constitutional questions.

The president’s suggestion aligns with a broader narrative of using federal power to enforce immigration priorities even when local or state authorities resist. His confrontational framing—branding dissenters as “insurrectionists”—underscores how nationalizing the issue could play politically for his base.

Newsom, a frequent target of Trump’s criticism, has been painted by the president as more interested in PR than performance. The criticism of his overspending on a light‑rail project—“100 times over budget”—was highlighted as emblematic of mismanagement, in Trump’s view.

Yet, many in California view the protests and enforcement clashes differently: as a battleground over civil liberties, sanctuary policies, and the limits of federal power. The perception of justice and force is often filtered through local context, and that dynamic is now playing out in real time.

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Tomorrow’s Protests, Today’s Tensions

With more protests expected in Los Angeles and across the state this week, the confrontation may intensify. Trump’s rhetoric positions the federal government as ready to bypass state resistance. Newsom—caught between federal demands and his constituency’s expectations—may have to answer whether he will reject the federal push or try to engage in legal and political countermeasures.

Meanwhile, the debate over enforcing immigration laws, local control, and the role of protest continues to grow ever more charged. Whether federal authorities ultimately attempt to carry out Trump’s call for Newsom’s arrest remains uncertain, but the mere suggestion has already deepened the political fault lines between Washington and Sacramento.