Governor Gavin Newsom is Mad as Hell About Trump’s Militarization of Los Angeles

The Southern Truth

By Gloria Zuurveen, Editor-in-Chief, PACE NEWS

Governor Gavin Newsom is fighting mad—and rightfully so—about troops being deployed in his backyard. Yes, he’s mad as hell, and he’s doing something about it. He’s not just speaking out; he’s taking action. He’s seeking justice in the courts and building support on the ground. A cadre of veterans has already joined him, boldly denouncing the federal government’s reckless decision to pit National Guard troops against their own neighbors—against their own sisters and brothers—at the command of a president whose actions more closely resemble tyranny than democracy.

According to both news reports and Governor Newsom himself, this is only the beginning. The handwriting is on the wall. A man who would be king—Donald J. Trump—is using our military as a theatrical prop and our streets as his stage. On his birthday, he put on a military display at the taxpayers’ expense, turning a moment of national leadership into a vanity parade. He didn’t care about the cost, the chaos, or the Constitution—because, in his mind, he is the head and the people must follow.

But not so fast. Governor Newsom is pushing back—loud, clear, and unafraid.

Just minutes ago, he issued a bold press release, doubling down on his stance against fear, against authoritarianism, and against the federalization of California’s National Guard. Once again, he is turning to the courts—this time the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals—to stop what he calls the unlawful militarization of Los Angeles. This courtroom confrontation is not just about state sovereignty—it’s about who gets to govern California: the elected governor or a president whose grip on power increasingly relies on spectacle, suppression, and unconstitutional overreach.

This is more than a legal dispute. It’s a litmus test for Newsom’s power and political courage in the face of a president who mocks him publicly, accusing him of aiding and abetting so-called “illegals.” Trump’s message, while resonating with many outside the state, is inciting division and disorder here at home. Meanwhile, California’s economy is bleeding—farmers, hospitality CEOs, and small business owners are crying out as the consequences of Trump’s deportation theater take hold. This is not fake news. It’s a real and present crisis.

Yet Newsom stands firm. He said it with fervor in his official announcement:

“I’m confident in the rule of law. I’m confident in the Constitution of the United States. I’m confident in the reasoned decision issued last week by a very well-respected federal judge. And I’m confident that common sense will prevail here: The U.S. military belongs on the battlefield, not on American streets.”

Not on American streets. That’s the line Newsom is drawing. He’s organized veterans, rallied law enforcement leaders, and shown that Trump’s actions were not only unnecessary but dangerous. Before Trump even federalized the National Guard, Newsom had already deployed California Highway Patrol officers and secured mutual aid from local agencies to keep the peace.

Even law enforcement backed him up. The Los Angeles Police Chief said, “We’re nowhere near a level where we would be reaching out to the governor for the National Guard.” And LA County’s Sheriff echoed that: “We have access to a lot of other law enforcement agencies.”

So why the show of force?

Newsom says the bottom line is $134 million—money wasted on Trump’s illegal militarization of the streets of Los Angeles. That’s $134 million added to the federal deficit, pulled from taxpayers’ pockets, used to federalize 4,000 National Guard troops and deploy 700 U.S. Marines—not to serve the nation abroad but to play political pawns in Trump’s domestic power play.

More troops now stand in Los Angeles than in Iraq and Syria combined. Let that sink in.

This is the moment to get fighting mad. Governor Gavin Newsom is, and he’s not holding back. Now, it’s up to the courts—and the conscience of the American people—to decide how this chatter plays out in this critical matter.

The Southern Truth