California Governor Gavin Newsom once seemed like a rising star in Democratic politics—possibly even president in 2028. But recent events in Los Angeles have left his political future looking shaky, at least in conservative eyes.
Federal agents conducted ICE raids in Los Angeles to enforce immigration laws. What started as peaceful demonstrations soon escalated. Protesters threw rocks at officers, vandalized stores, and even set cars on fire. Downtown streets and part of the freeway were shut down.
In response, President Trump deployed about 2,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to protect federal facilities—without waiting for Governor Newsom’s approval. Newsom called it unconstitutional and sued the federal government, accusing the administration of “federalizing” the California Guard.
But as Glenn Beck noted on a recent episode, President Trump is absolutely with his rights to send in the National Guard.
Critics on the right argue LA’s descent into chaos is proof of Newsom’s weak leadership. A New York Post letter sums it up: “weak and ineffective leadership from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass” allowed violence to erupt—and they credit Trump’s intervention with restoring order. California Republicans also slammed both leaders for “letting L.A. burn”.
On national TV, Trump declared Newsom “grossly incompetent” and openly supported arresting him for refusing to comply with federal authority. His border advisor, Tom Homan, echoed the threat—though he later walked it back.
Fox News warned that social media critics believe Newsom’s “political future is practically nonexistent”, linking the violence in L.A. to his leadership failure. On top of soaring crime, high taxes, and an exodus of residents, many conservatives say these events cement a narrative that Newsom can’t maintain order or protect Californians.
The Los Angeles unrest reflects a broader challenge: when local leaders refuse federal support and protests turn destructive, people lose trust in the government. For Gavin Newsom, it might be the most significant threat yet to his political dreams.
