Newsom slams Trump’s troop deployment to LA, warns of authoritarianism and vows legal resistance.

Governor Warns of 'Point of No Return' in Standoff with Trump

California Governor Gavin Newsom has strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy military forces to Los Angeles, accusing the administration of authoritarian behavior and warning that the country has reached a dangerous tipping point. Newsom revealed that his team has even prepared for the possibility of his arrest by federal authorities, following threats made by Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan.

“He just threatened my arrest,” Newsom said in an interview with The Washington Post, adding that the situation has reached a “point of no return.” During a podcast appearance, Newsom admitted that his administration has discussed the consequences if the federal government were to secure a warrant for his detention. “That we are even having that conversation in the United States in 2025 says everything you need to know about who’s in the White House right now,” he remarked.

The tensions began after Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines into Los Angeles to quell unrest triggered by recent ICE arrests. Newsom rejected the deployment, stating it violated California’s sovereignty and lacked justification. “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego,” he posted on X.

Newsom emphasized that most troops were idle and stationed in federal buildings without directives. He criticized the use of military personnel trained for foreign combat in domestic law enforcement, warning of the psychological impact on local communities. “We’re seeing unmarked cars in school parking lots, kids afraid of attending their own graduation,” he said during a public address.

Legal Fight and Political Fallout

In a legal escalation, California filed a lawsuit against the administration and sought an emergency court order to halt the federal deployment. “We filed a legal challenge to Donald Trump's reckless deployment of American troops to a major American city,” Newsom stated. He cautioned that if individuals could be detained without warrants based solely on suspicion or appearance, no one is truly safe.

While Newsom pledged to prosecute violent rioters, he thanked peaceful demonstrators and emphasized that Trump was escalating tensions for political gain. “Trump is pulling a military dragnet across Los Angeles… arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers, and seamstresses,” he said. “That’s just weakness masquerading as strength.”

Newsom also addressed Trump’s comments supporting Homan’s threat to arrest him. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor,” Newsom wrote on X. “This is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Homan later walked back his comments, stating that arrests would occur only if a crime were committed. But Newsom stood firm, reiterating that California would resist federal overreach and protect its residents. “California may be first, but it clearly will not end here,” he warned. “Other states are next. Democracy is next.”

As protests continue and legal proceedings unfold, the clash between Trump and Newsom signals broader tensions over immigration, civil liberties, and the balance of power between states and the federal government. Newsom closed his remarks urging citizens to protest peacefully and reject complicity in what he described as a democratic crisis.