Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics, calling recent ICE raids and the deployment of military forces in his state “weakness masquerading as strength.”
While appearing on The Shawn Ryan Show podcast, Newsom condemned the decision to call in the National Guard following immigration protests and unrest in Southern California, describing the show of force as both excessive and ineffective.
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Shawn Ryan: What do you think Trump’s doing wrong right now?
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 14, 2025
Me: Weakness masquerading as strength. That’s what I don’t like about this son of a bitch. pic.twitter.com/Egw66UZZhQ
“Five thousand damn military in the streets of an American city,” Newsom said. “You just see three blocks, and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, all of L.A.’ But I’m in the Reagan building, literally a couple blocks away. You don’t even hear anything.”
He criticized the optics and intent behind the response, recalling images of National Guard troops on horseback carrying American flags through soccer fields and frightening children.
“It’s a weakness masquerading as strength,” Newsom continued. “That’s what I don’t like about this son of a b****.”
The California governor said that law enforcement ended up protecting the National Guard from anti-ICE protesters, rather than restoring order, calling the situation absurd. He accused Trump and federal agencies of testing “executive boundaries” nationwide. He warned that the president is building “one of the largest private armies in the world” through resource-heavy federal enforcement.
Newsom also defended undocumented immigrants in California, stressing their vital role in the state’s economy.
“We have all these mixed-status families, $8.5 billion in tax collection in California every year from undocs,” he said, citing a Pew Research estimate.
Newsom says illegal aliens are the "backbone" of our economy and California cannot rebuild without them.
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 14, 2025
He also says they are not taking jobs from Californians.
41% of construction workers are illegals, but Gavin says: "I don't see many people like me jumping at those jobs." pic.twitter.com/bccaGg4o1Y
He argued that undocumented workers form the “backbone” of key industries, including agriculture and construction.
“If you care about farmers and ranchers … then you, sure as hell, should care about their workers,” Newsom said, noting that 41% of construction workers in states like California and Texas fall into this category.
Asked whether undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from Americans, Newsom dismissed the idea.
VANCE CLAPS BACK AT NEWSOM OVER DISNEYLAND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES SOCIAL MEDIA POST
“Not in Tulare County, not in Ventura County,” he said. “I don’t know many people that want a job out there in those packing facilities. I don’t see many people look like me jumping at those jobs.”
The remarks come as tensions rise between the Trump-Vance administration and California officials following large-scale ICE raids at cannabis farms earlier this month.