A recent White House press conference underscored the increasing tensions between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom over the deployment of the National Guard and efforts related to redistricting.
The political conflict escalated during the event on Monday, August 11, when President Trump launched into a strongly-worded critique of Governor Newsom while addressing the media. Trump’s remarks were directed at the Democratic governor, whom he described with a derogatory nickname, calling him “incompetent” and accusing him of being all talk. The intensity of the exchange prompted Fox News to interrupt its regular programming to cover the press conference live.
This confrontation occurs as the two leaders prepare for a legal battle in federal court. The case will examine whether President Trump violated a long-standing law by deploying the National Guard in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles, California.
Protests erupted in Los Angeles, California, in June 2025, following immigration raids that led to numerous detentions and deportations. President Trump invoked a seldom-used law permitting the federalization of the National Guard during instances of rebellion or when regular forces are unable to enforce U.S. laws. Despite opposition from Governor Newsom and local leaders, Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines to the city.
Governor Newsom subsequently filed a lawsuit on June 9, 2025, against President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The lawsuit claims violations of the Posse Comitatus Act and the 10th Amendment, arguing that the law largely prohibits the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement.
The trial, held in San Francisco, California, is overseen by Judge Charles Breyer of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. California’s legal team argues that the deployment effectively placed Los Angeles under military occupation. The federal government counters by asserting the president’s authority to enforce federal laws, including immigration regulations.
A military general involved in the deployment testified that he did not hear the protests being characterized as a “rebellion,” a classification that would have been necessary to justify the deployment under the cited law.
The dispute extends beyond the courtroom. In response to President Trump’s redistricting initiatives in Texas and other states, Governor Newsom made a strong statement. He used social media to urge Trump to “call your lapdogs off” and warned of a political response from California.
Governor Newsom’s social media statement called for President Trump to contact Texas Governor Greg Abbott and urge him to halt redistricting efforts. Newsom emphasized that Trump was not “entitled” to additional congressional seats and warned of a swift electoral response if the situation continued.
The redistricting issue began two weeks ago when President Trump urged Texas Governor Abbott to secure more congressional seats through mid-decade gerrymandering, a deviation from the typical ten-year redistricting cycle following the U.S. Census. Texas Democrats have resisted by leaving the state to prevent a quorum.
Governor Newsom has expressed his intention to advocate for redrawing California’s district lines in reaction to developments in Texas. Governors Kathy Hochul of New York and JB Pritzker of Illinois have indicated similar plans for their states.
Currently, 300 National Guard troops remain stationed in Los Angeles, California. Governor Newsom’s legal team seeks a declaration that the deployment orders were unauthorized. The remaining troops are located at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California, reportedly without a clear mission or timeline for withdrawal.
The outcome of the trial may have significant implications for presidential authority in deploying military forces domestically and could establish a precedent for future National Guard deployments in California or other states. The case highlights the ongoing dispute between President Trump and Governor Newsom over federal and state authority.