Los Angeles/Washington, June 12: U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday reignited tensions with California Governor Gavin Newsom, claiming he personally called the Democratic leader to criticise his handling of ongoing unrest in Los Angeles — a call Newsom flatly denied.
“A day ago. Called him up to tell him, got to do a better job, he’s doing a bad job. Causing a lot of death and potential death,” Trump told reporters when asked about his last communication with the governor.
Newsom swiftly rejected the claim. “There was no call. Not even a voicemail,” he told reporters, warning that Americans should be alarmed that “a President deploying Marines onto our streets doesn’t even know who he’s talking to.”
The remarks came as Newsom filed an emergency motion in federal court to block the deployment of National Guard members and U.S. Marines in support of federal immigration operations in Los Angeles.
In a filing on Tuesday, California argued that the presence of military personnel could provoke further unrest and escalate confrontations. The motion comes after federal authorities informed state officials that the Pentagon would expand the troops’ mandate to include support roles in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, such as perimeter security.
Photos shared by ICE on social media showed National Guard troops present during arrests of two individuals in Los Angeles. The deployment has drawn criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic officials who say the military’s involvement in domestic law enforcement is inappropriate.
“Trump is turning the U.S. military against American citizens,” Newsom wrote on X. The White House defended the move, and administration attorneys dismissed the governor’s legal challenge as “dangerous” and an attempt to undermine federal authority. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday in federal court.
Meanwhile, protests in downtown Los Angeles entered their fifth consecutive day, with multiple arrests reported on Tuesday. Demonstrators have rallied against immigration raids and the increasing militarisation of law enforcement in the city.
Speaking at Fort Bragg, Trump referred to Los Angeles as a “trash heap” and vowed to “liberate” the city from what he called criminal elements. “We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again,” he said.
Trump’s remarks come as part of a broader narrative targeting Democratic-led cities, which he frequently portrays as overrun by crime and mismanagement. Los Angeles, despite its challenges, remains one of the country’s wealthiest cities, with the average home price nearing $1 million, according to Zillow.
The war of words between Trump and Newsom has intensified amid the president’s controversial use of federal forces in domestic affairs, a move critics warn risks eroding civilian oversight and exacerbating political divides.
