Donald Trump responded positively to a suggestion that California governor Gavin Newsom should be arrested, and, of course, the governor vehemently disagrees.
It all started Sunday, when the president responded to reporters about protests going on in Los Angeles over the raids being conducted by ICE in the region.
Trump said that officials “who stand in the way of law and order” will face judges, a remark later supported by border czar Tom Homan.
“You cross that line, it’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job,” Homan told reporters.
Newsom called Homan’s bluff on Sunday during an interview with MSNBC.
“He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do that? He knows where to find me,” Newsom said. “That kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”
On Monday, the president was asked by reporters if he supported Homan arresting Newsom.
And, guess what: Trump was all for putting Newsom behind bars even though there is currently no evidence he actually violated any laws ― typically a prerequisite for arrest.
“I would [arrest him] if I was Tom, I think it’s great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing,” Trump said, in response to a question by Fox News’ Peter Doocy.
Trump then said that while Newsom has done “a terrible job,” he admitted he likes the California governor.
“He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent,” Trump said, as shown in the video clip below.
Although Newsom dared Homan to arrest him, he was shocked that Trump endorsed it, and said the president’s remarks marked “a day I hoped I would never see in America.”
“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,” Newsom said.
People on social media were as shocked by Trump’s willingness to arrest a sitting governor who hasn’t been charged or accused of any crimes.
Vice President JD Vance responded to Newsom’s post, saying, “Do your job. That’s all we’re asking.”
Many of the folks responding to Vance’s response felt obliged to mock him.