In a speech filled with foreboding gravitas, Gov. Gavin Newsom conveyed his concerns about President Donald Trump, describing him as a risk to the foundational aspects of American freedom. Newsom’s remarks pointed to the dispatched federal military forces to Los Angeles, interpreting this action as the beginning of a broader scheme by Trump aimed to dismantle political and societal conventions pivotal to national democracy. According to the governor who might be in the race for presidency in 2028, the appearance of the National Guard and Marine forces in the city was more than an attempt to suppress protests that erupted in the wake of federal immigration raids.
Newsom posited that such a calculated move was intended to shake societal core values with the ultimate purpose of concentrating authority in his Presidential office. Taking a grave tone, Newsom, sitting under the traditional U.S. and California flags, ardently proclaimed that though California is in the spotlight now, other states would soon follow. He sounded a warning bell about democracy itself, hinting at an impending crisis with his words, ‘Democracy is next. Democracy is under attack right before our eyes. The situation we were afraid of has come to pass’.
As the leader of California which is known to be heavily inclined to Democratic ideologies, and with Trump being Republican, Newsom has long been a critic of current presidency. With his speech aired during primetime television, he laid out his case that Trump isn’t simply a menace to democratic ideals but is vigorously making attempts to erode its safeguards that date back to the formation of the country.
He went on to grapple with Trump’s recent actions, saying ‘This is a war declared. A war on culture, on heritage, on scientific method, and on the pursuit of knowledge,’ Newsom emphatically stated. ‘He is bringing ill-repute to media houses, and launching an attack on the First Amendment.’
Newsom further asserted Trump’s assault was not limited to media, but was also targeting law firms and the judiciary. Hierarchies which, according to Newsom, are crucial for maintaining a harmonious societal order. ‘It’s time we all take a stand,’ he appealed to the listeners, endorsing peaceful protests.
In a remarkable statement, Newsom suggested that ‘What Donald Trump most desires is your loyalty, your complaisance, being an inactive spectator in this critical moment. Don’t be submissive to him.’ The day of the governor’s stern speech also happened to coincide with his appeal to the court, in which he asked for an emergency halt to military’s assistance to federal immigration agents. Circumstances have led to guards taking up the role of barriers around agents, ensuring their safety during the process of making arrests.
President Trump, contravening the protestations by city and state officials, has initiated more than 4,000 National Guard operatives and 700 Marines. However, the Marines have not been observed in Los Angeles and the Guard personnel have exhibited minimal interaction with the protestors. Their initial assignment was to ensure the protection of federal properties.
The protests weren’t restricted to this state but started resonating in other cities across the nation—Dallas and Austin in Texas, Chicago, and New York City. Protests in New York saw a large gathering of several hundreds of people and multiple apprehensions were reported. Not shying away from using his powers to the fullest, Trump even broached the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act.
The Insurrection Act empowers the president to mobilize military forces within the U.S. to quell rebellion, maintain domestic peace, or exert the law in some scenarios. It’s widely considered one of the most potent emergency powers available to a U.S. president. Trump commented with an unsettling vagueness about the potential use of the act, extending the suspense from his seat in the Oval Office, ‘If there’s an insurrection, I’d definitely leverage it. Time will tell.’