Trump Backs Arrest California Gov. Newsom Amid LA Anti-ICE Protests

President Donald Trump has publicly supported the idea of arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom amid violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, backing Border Czar Tom Homan's warning that anyone interfering with immigration enforcement, including Newsom, could face arrest. Trump called Newsom "grossly incompetent" and suggested arresting him would be "a great thing," while Newsom condemned the president's remarks as an "unmistakable step toward authoritarianism" and vowed to sue the federal government over the National Guard deployment. The protests erupted in response to immigration raids and escalated after Trump federalized and sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles without a formal state request, a move criticized by Newsom as a breach of state sovereignty. Homan clarified that no one is above the law but denied threatening to arrest Newsom specifically, emphasizing that arrests would only occur if laws were broken. The confrontation marks a significant escalation between the Trump administration and California officials, highlighting deep divisions over immigration enforcement and handling of civil unrest. Trump also took credit for restoring calm in Los Angeles, asserting that without federal intervention the city would have been "completely obliterated."