Trump backs arrest of California governor amid LA protests

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said it would be “great” if California Governor Gavin Newsom was arrested, making a rare and bold statement during a heated exchange between both leaders over immigration protests in Los Angeles.

The 78-year-old Republican leader sent the National Guard into Los Angeles on Saturday after violent clashes broke out during protests against immigration raids.

This move was unusual because Trump did not consult Governor Newsom before taking action — a decision that hasn’t been made by any U.S. president in the past 60 years.

The tension between both men continued to grow over the weekend when Newsom, who is 57 years old, responded to claims made by Trump’s immigration official, Tom Homan.

Homan had earlier said that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass might face federal charges for allegedly trying to stop immigration officers from doing their job. Newsom, in return, challenged Homan, daring him to arrest him.

“I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters when asked if Homan should arrest Newsom, as the Republican president arrived on his Marine One helicopter at the White House.

“Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”

Trump said Newsom, who has been widely tipped as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, had “done a terrible job” in curbing the Los Angeles clashes.

“Look, I like Gavin Newsom, he’s a nice guy — but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows,” Trump said.

Trump later said that “I don’t want a civil war,” but that “civil war would happen if you left it to people like him.”

Newsom has bitterly accused Trump of manufacturing the crisis for political gain, saying that local law authorities could have handled the protests without the National Guard.

On Sunday, he blasted border chief Homan, telling MSNBC: “Come after me, arrest me, let’s just get it over with, tough guy.”

The Democrat then branded Trump as “dictatorial” later Monday after the Trump administration deployed 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles.