Gavin Newsom’s rising star: How the California governor’s momentum is stirring up MAGA and Fox News

Facing term limits in his home state of California, Governor Gavin Newsom has his eyes set on the White House. Now, he finds himself at the center of a political fight with the residence’s current occupant over immigration raids and what the governor describes as authoritarian overreach by the Trump administration.

California leaders blame the White House for the protests

Forbes reported this week that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increase arrests, setting a target of 3,000 per day. The directive was issued during a meeting with ICE leadership in late May, where Miller was quoted asking agents why they weren’t at a Home Depot—one of the businesses targeted in Los Angeles late last week. Subsequent workplace raids followed, sparking protests that erupted in the city’s downtown.

In response, President Donald Trump took the unprecedented step of calling in the National Guard and Marines against the will of the governor, calling the protestors insurrectionists and calling publicly for the arrest of Governor Newsom. However, Newsom, Bass, and other California leaders have accused the White House of benefiting from the chaos of their own creation by conducting mass arrests.

Governor Newsom and President Trump have been trading direct attacks, with Newsom using the spotlight to build his case against the president. He has warned that Trump’s actions pose a threat to all states, citing the legal justification used to federalize the National Guard and deploy the Marines. “When Donald Trump sought blanket authority to commandeer the National Guard, he made that order apply to every state in this nation,” explained the governor.

For Newsom, Bass, and many California leaders, ICE’s operations represent an assault on the most vulnerable. The raids have been so sweeping that they included a pregnant U.S. citizen, undocumented children, and individuals with no criminal record. A Gallup poll conducted last year found that 70 percent of voters support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented migrants.

Newsom steals the spotlight

As Newsom pushes back against the White House, Trump has continued his attacks, claiming that without military intervention, “Los Angeles would be burning.” The president called for Newsom to be arrested, while other members of the MAGA movement, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, said he should be tarred and feathered.

Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, have echoed Republican talking points, with a recent article arguing that Newsom’s actions have doomed any chance he had at a 2028 presidential run.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that Google searches for Gavin Newsom surged by nearly 10,000 over the past week—a sign that both supporters and critics are eager to learn more about the California leader. Among Democrats unfamiliar with Newsom, his combative stance toward the president may actually boost his standing with a base eager to see leaders confront Trump head-on.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.