A bitter feud has erupted between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom after the president suggested the governor should be arrested — a move Newsom blasted as a blatant sign of authoritarianism.
The clash comes in the wake of intense riots and mass protests across Los Angeles, triggered by harsh immigration crackdowns carried out throughout the city. Although Sunday night saw a brief pause in the unrest, fears remain high that Monday could unleash another wave of chaos.
Trump’s threat to deploy active-duty military forces has drawn fierce condemnation from both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who argue the move would only add fuel to an already raging fire.
Amid the turmoil, an Australian journalist was caught in the violence. Channel 9’s Lauren Tomasi was reporting live when she was shot by police with a rubber bullet. Visibly shaken and in pain, the moment was captured on live TV — with someone off-camera yelling, “You just f***in’ shot the reporter!” in stunned disbelief.
This shocking incident was just one of many flashpoints in a weekend of escalating confrontations.
On Sunday, Trump unilaterally ordered the National Guard into the streets of LA — directly contradicting the wishes of both the governor and the mayor, who warned the action would only worsen an already volatile situation. Local police later declared parts of the protests unlawful and confirmed multiple arrests.
In a formal response, Governor Newsom demanded that federal troops be withdrawn.
“I’ve officially requested that the Trump administration revoke their unauthorized deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and restore control to state authorities,” Newsom said. “This crisis was manufactured by Trump. His interference is a serious violation of California’s sovereignty and is ripping vital resources away from where they’re truly needed.
“Take back the order. Give California back its control.”
