Trump Endorses Arrest of California Gov. Newsom Amid Immigration Dispute

President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the idea of arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement and anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. Trump praised the move as a "great thing," criticizing Newsom as "grossly incompetent" and accusing him of mismanaging projects like California's costly light-rail development. Newsom responded strongly, condemning Trump's call for his arrest as an authoritarian overreach and highlighting the federal government's unilateral deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles without state consent. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the federalization of the National Guard, arguing it infringes on state sovereignty and Newsom's authority. The dispute reflects a broader conflict between the federal government’s immigration enforcement efforts under Trump and California's opposition, with Newsom daring federal authorities to arrest him and Trump signaling support for such actions. Both sides have framed the confrontation in starkly different terms, with the president criticizing Newsom's governance and Newsom warning against erosion of democratic norms.