Trump says he'd support arresting Newsom if he blocks ICE amid LA riots, calling the governor “grossly incompetent.”

Trump Calls Out Newsom as ICE Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump issued a pointed rebuke of California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, stating he would support the arrest of the governor if he obstructs federal immigration operations in Los Angeles. The remark came during a brief press exchange after Trump stepped off Marine One near the White House.

When asked by a reporter whether ICE Border Czar Tom Homan should respond to Newsom’s challenge to arrest him, Trump replied directly: “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great.” Trump added that while he considered Newsom a “nice guy,” he believed the governor was “grossly incompetent” in his handling of the ongoing unrest in Los Angeles.

“He’s done a terrible job,” Trump stated. “Everybody knows.”

Trump also characterized many of the individuals involved in the riots as “professional agitators” and “insurrectionists,” insisting they were not legitimate demonstrators. “They’re bad people. They should be in jail,” he said.

Newsom Fires Back, Warns of Authoritarian Shift

Governor Newsom responded swiftly on social media, expressing alarm at what he saw as an unprecedented threat. “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor,” Newsom wrote. “This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.”

Newsom called the comment a “line we cannot cross as a nation,” labeling the president’s stance as “an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Meanwhile, Tom Homan clarified his own statements during a separate media appearance. Speaking on “Fox & Friends” earlier that day, Homan noted that while “no one is above the law,” he had not discussed arresting Newsom or Mayor Karen Bass directly. Instead, he emphasized that individuals who assault ICE officers, destroy property, or harbor undocumented immigrants would be held accountable.

“You can protest, you get your First Amendment rights,” Homan said. “But when you cross that line… that’s a crime, and the Trump administration is not going to tolerate it.”

Homan criticized California’s response to the riots following ICE raids, stating that protesters threw objects at law enforcement and burned American flags and vehicles. The unrest erupted after immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles drew backlash from local officials and activists.

In response, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city to help stabilize the situation. The move has sparked tension between the White House and California leaders, who have accused the administration of overstepping its authority.

As the conflict over immigration enforcement and civil unrest continues, the political divide between the Trump administration and Democratic state leadership appears to be deepening. The president’s blunt remarks and the governor’s sharp response have added fuel to an already volatile situation in one of the nation’s most populous states.