SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of the National Guard across multiple states, calling the move “an authoritarian overreach” and warning that the nation is “sliding toward tyranny.”
“These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,” Newsom declared Sunday during an emergency press conference at the California State Capitol.
The remarks came in response to Trump’s order activating National Guard units in California, New York, Illinois, and several other blue states to assist in what the White House described as “public safety stabilization operations.” Critics argue the move amounts to federal overreach into state jurisdiction, bypassing governors and local law enforcement agencies.
“This is not about safety. It’s about control,” Newsom said. “Let’s call it what it is: political theater with troops.”
A National Flashpoint
The deployment was authorized under the Insurrection Act — a rarely used federal law that allows the president to send in military forces during times of domestic unrest. The Trump administration claims the Guard is being sent to “restore law and order” in cities where violent protests and organized thefts have reportedly surged in recent weeks.
But local leaders, including Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, have refused to request or approve the assistance, accusing Trump of bypassing constitutional norms.
“It’s martial law without calling it martial law,” Newsom said.
He added that his office is reviewing legal avenues to resist the order and has coordinated with other governors to file an emergency injunction.
White House Defends Move
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president’s actions Monday morning, saying the deployment is “firmly within the president’s authority” and essential to protecting American communities from “coordinated criminal acts and domestic extremism.”
“This administration will not allow chaos to replace governance,” she said. “These are not peaceful protests. These are organized efforts to destabilize.”
When pressed about Governor Newsom’s “dictator” comment, Leavitt responded tersely: “The governor is entitled to his opinion — but not to his own facts.”
Backlash Grows
Newsom’s condemnation joins a growing chorus of critics, including civil liberties organizations, military veterans, and even some Republicans, who fear the move sets a dangerous precedent.
Former GOP Senator Jeff Flake tweeted:
“The Founders warned us about strongmen. The question is: will we listen?”
ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero called the deployment “an assault on federalism” and “a chilling escalation in the politicization of the armed forces.”
Meanwhile, scenes from several U.S. cities showed Guard troops patrolling streets, setting up checkpoints, and working alongside federal agents in “sensitive zones.” In Los Angeles and Chicago, protests flared over the weekend, with dozens of arrests made.
Newsom Ramps Up Resistance
Despite the legal uncertainties, Newsom signaled California would not comply with Trump’s order.
“We do not recognize the legitimacy of this intervention,” he stated flatly. “And we will not allow our National Guard to be federalized and used as a political weapon.”
Newsom also accused Trump of using the deployment to distract from the ballooning federal deficit and ongoing investigations into executive overreach.
“We’re not going to trade our democracy for a photo op,” he said.
What Happens Next?
Constitutional scholars are divided on the limits of the Insurrection Act, which gives the president broad authority in emergencies but has rarely been challenged in court. The last major use of the law occurred during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
“This is a legal and political crisis unfolding in real time,” said Professor Leah Green of Stanford Law. “It will test the balance of power between states and the federal government in ways we haven’t seen in generations.”
For now, the country remains on edge — and the standoff between California and the White House could mark a defining moment in the 2025 political landscape.