California Governor Gavin Newsom. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
California Governor Gavin Newsom has harshly criticised President Donald Trump, calling him “authoritarian” and “crazy” after a series of threats in connection with protests in Los Angeles. In an interview with Politico, Newsom said that Trump’s statement about the possibility of sending Marines to California sends a dangerous signal.
“This is just an extraordinary moment… These are the words of an authoritarian. He is acting recklessly,” the governor said.
Newsom said that the courts currently remain the only effective deterrent in a situation where the Trump administration is ignoring the position of the state’s duly elected leadership.
Earlier, the California government had already filed a lawsuit against the US president, accusing him of exceeding his authority after Trump sent 2,000 National Guardsmen to suppress protests without the state’s consent.
In addition, the head of state threatened to arrest Governor Newsom, an idea voiced by White House adviser Tom Homan, and supported by Trump himself publicly on Truth Social.
