California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of federal operations in Minneapolis and across the United States, describing them as unprecedented overreach and a threat to public safety.
Speaking to reporters, Newsom highlighted the deployment of federal agents in tactical gear, saying, “And in the ensuing months, we’ve seen BORTAC teams — people dressed in tactical gear, helicopters deployed to streets all across America — moving massive numbers of men without providing identification. We’re in court over that. I was proud to sign the first anti-masking bill in this country.”
The governor directly accused Trump of attempting to incite domestic unrest, stating, “He is trying to stoke a civil war in this country. It is a disgrace what he is doing in Minneapolis. It is a disgrace what he is doing all across the United States, terrorizing communities. It is a disgrace what his Department of Homeland Security is putting out.”
Newsom also condemned federal messaging and policies, asserting that the administration is promoting racial tensions and white supremacy. “These ads are intentionally evoking the worst of the 1930s, stoking tensions. White supremacy is being actively promoted by this administration. The corruption is unlike anything we’ve seen in modern history — modern world history. I can give you chapter and verse on that. None of this is normal, and it cannot be normalized,” he said.
The governor noted that his office has taken legal action against federal overreach, citing 53 lawsuits and counting, with “overwhelming success” in court, including recent decisions rejecting federal challenges to California’s Proposition 50.
Newsom’s comments come as Minneapolis continues to face protests and federal intervention following ICE operations, which local officials have said have overwhelmed municipal police forces. President Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to unrest, raising concerns about federal authority and the potential for escalation.
The governor concluded by emphasizing that the Trump administration’s tactics are not just a local issue, but a nationwide concern. “There’s not enough time, and you don’t have enough tape, for me to walk through everything he has done in the last week, let alone the last month or year. Of course, we’re analyzing all of that,” Newsom said.
