During a Sunday interview with NBC News, Border Czar Tom Homan stated, “The rhetoric is so high against ICE officers in this city that it’s a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt. We’ve got help coming, and we’re going to do our job, and we’re going to continue doing that job.”
Homan warned that any California officials who “cross the line” by interfering with ICE operations or obstructing federal efforts to quell the unrest could face arrest and prosecution.
Speaking to an NBC News reporter after a Sunday evening meeting at LAPD headquarters, California Gov. Gavin Newsom had some tough words for the border czar. Aiming his remarks directly at Homan, Newsom said, “Get your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Paying their taxes. Been here ten years.
“The fear, the horror, what the hell is this guy?” he asked. “Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy. I don’t give a d*mn.
The governor continued, “These guys need to grow up. They need to stop and we need to push back. And I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting.
“So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
In an X post afterward, Newsom attributed the protests to the Trump administration, suggesting that the three-day-long riots were “provoked by chaos from Washington.”
The so-called “protestors” are demanding the release of each individual whom ICE has arrested over the past week. As of 6 p.m. on Sunday night, 11 illegals had been apprehended and a Fox News panel described them as “the worst of the worst.” One of the detainees, for example, was facing charges of battery to spouse, willful cruelty to a child, assault with a semi-automatic firearm, and driving under the influence. Others were charged with second-degree murder, sexual battery, and child abuse.
Newsom is well aware that the illegal immigrants rounded up by ICE in Los Angeles over the past several days are not “these poor people” who are “just trying to live their lives man, paying their taxes.” They are not the individuals we want in our country.
The governor—along with most legacy media outlets—has described the protests as “mostly peaceful.” I suppose, if one considers throwing rocks and projectiles at ICE officials, setting cars on fire, and blockading a federal building to be peaceful activities, then that characterization would be appropriate.
Fox News contributor Guy Benson noted he had not seen a single shot of the riots that didn’t feature Mexican flags, f-words, or people hurling objects at law enforcement officers.
Newsom’s claim that the “protests [were] provoked by chaos from Washington” is just plain delusional. As one commenter pointed out, “ICE came in to execute lawful warrants against illegals with active deportation orders, and a bunch of shit-heads started rioting. Nobody believes you.”
There was a time when the public might have accepted this kind of spin without question—but that time is over. They’ve watched the scenes of chaos and confrontation play out on their television screens and across social media in real time. They’ve seen the fires, the clashes with law enforcement, and the blockades for themselves. Whatever narrative officials or media outlets try to offer, the public is increasingly capable of drawing its own conclusions about what’s really happening in Los Angeles.
Newsom is widely expected to launch a presidential bid in 2028, and he appears increasingly eager to position himself as a national leader. In recent months, he has gone out of his way to project confidence, decisiveness, and command on the national stage. But reality tells a different story. His handling of the Los Angeles wildfires in January was widely criticized as disorganized, ineffective, and insufficient. Now, in the midst of yet another crisis unfolding in his state, his leadership is once again falling short.
Rather than reinforcing his presidential credentials, these high-stakes moments have only highlighted deep flaws in his ability manage a crisis and raised serious questions about his readiness for higher office. Leaders don’t make excuses. They don’t lie or point blame or try to gaslight their constituents.
Newsom may be eager for the spotlight, but he’s clearly not ready for primetime.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn or X.
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