In a further escalation of tensions between California’s governor and national Republicans, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said on Tuesday that Gavin Newsom “ought to be tarred and feathered” over his handling of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
President Donald Trump said Monday that Newsom should be arrested for how he’s dealt with protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids and deportations. Trump deployed the National Guard on Sunday over Newsom’s objections, heightening tensions with both protestors and the governor.
A reporter asked Johnson whether Newsom should face legal consequences.
“I’m not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested,” Johnson, who has a legal degree, told reporters. “But he ought to be tarred and feathered, I’ll say that.”
Discussion on whether Newsom should be arrested appears to stem from White House border czar Tom Homan, who previously suggested arresting people who obstructed immigration enforcement. NBC News reported that, when asked explicitly about arresting Newsom or LA Mayor Karen Bass, Homan didn’t rule them out.
President Donald Trump advocated for Newsom’s arrest on Monday, telling reporters, “I would do it, if I were Tom [Homan]” and “Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.”
Newsom has sued the administration for activating the Guard. Trump has also mobilized hundreds of Marines; White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting Tuesday that the White House is “not backing down” in LA.
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Nuha Dolby is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.
This NOTUS story was produced in partnership with San José Spotlight and with NewsWell, home of Times of San Diego and Stocktonia.