Governor Gavin Newsom characterized President Donald Trump’s actions as a menace to the fundamental principles of the United States, portraying the deployment of the military to Los Angeles as the beginning of a broader campaign led by Trump to disrupt the political and cultural norms that form the backbone of the country’s democracy. During a speech on a Tuesday evening, the possible contender for the Democrats’ 2028 presidential nomination, asserted that Trump’s directive to dispatch National Guard and Marine forces to the city was not merely aimed at suppressing the protests that erupted following a series of immigration raids by federal law enforcement agencies.
He suggested, rather, that it represented a strategic ‘war’ designed to disrupt societal structures and centralize power in the presidency. The Governor from California, possibly the first state to experience this, expressed grave concern that it would not be the last. ‘Other states will surely follow. Even democracy itself is next. The grave moment we have dreaded is now upon us,’ Newsom said grimly, seated between the flags of the United States and California.
As the leader of the highly Democratic state often referred to as the core of the ‘Trump resistance’, it was not surprising that Newsom and the Republican president have often been in opposition. However, the Governor’s speech, delivered during prime time viewing hours, presented a case that argued not just that Trump was a threat to democracy, but that he was actively striving to dismantle the very safeguards that trace their origins back to the nation’s early days.
In his remarks, Newsom alleged, ‘He’s declared a war. A war on culture, on history, on science, and on the very essence of knowledge.’ The Governor further accused Trump of seeking to discredit news media outlets, in addition to launching an assault on the First Amendment. Newsom expanded on his concerns, asserting that Trump is also waging an attack on legal institutions and the judiciary — key elements of a civil and orderly society.
Reinforcing the need to counter this threat, Newsom announced, ‘It’s time for all of us to take a stance.’ He encouraged any protests to remain peaceful and warned against complacency. ‘What Donald Trump desires most is your loyalty, your unwillingness to speak up, your compliance in this moment. Do not succumb to him.’ These remarks came on the very day that Newsom petitioned a court to issue an emergency halt to the military assisting federal immigration officials. Certain guardsmen are now stationing themselves as a protective shield around these officials as they execute arrests.
The activation of more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines by Trump, over strident city and state objections, has added to the tension. However, Marine forces have yet to be sighted in Los Angeles, and Guard troops have only interacted minimally with demonstrators. Their initial deployment was for the protection of federal buildings. Protests have ignited in other cities across the state and country, inclusive of Dallas and Austin in Texas, Chicago, and New York City. The latter saw a rally of a thousand individuals and multiple arrests.
Further raising the stakes, the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act remains on Trump’s table. This would authorize him to use military forces within the U.S. borders to quell rebellion, address domestic violence, or enforce the law under specific circumstances. Of all the emergency powers at a U.S. president’s disposal, this is one of the most severe. Responding to this prospect from the Oval Office, Trump said, ‘If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see.’