SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom is wasting no time post-Election Day on how he plans to defend the Golden State against the incoming Trump Administration.
“We are not going to shrink and are not going fall prey,” said Newsom during a virtual call with Democratic supporters.
Newsom spoke for the first on camera since former President Donald Trump secured a political comeback by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. He said tens of thousands of people were on the call, some out of state supporters, and told them it is time to assert themselves.
“We are going to have their back. We are going to have your back, even if you do not live in the state of California, we are going to have your back. We are going assert ourselves,” said Newsom.
Through the political action committee Newsom launched last year, Campaign for Democracy, the Governor believes Trump’s second term will be more aggressive.
“I expect him to be a little sharper on the follow through, not just the rhetoric,” said Newsom. “Trump 2.0, I think is going to be from his perspective, aiming to be more effective than 1.0.”
Newsom said Trump will implement the ideologies of Project 2025, even as Trump has said otherwise.
During the first Trump term, California led the resistance with suing the administration 120 times.
On Thursday, Newsom reacted by calling for an emergency special session to safeguard the state’s progressive policies and give the Attorney General’s office more funding to fight federal challenges.
“I revere this country, I revere the presidency, and I want our president to succeed,” said Newsom during the call which went roughly 30 minutes. “We know their playbook. We know what they are going to do.”
“It is no secret that Governor Newsom has been trying to increase his public profile outside the state of California for several months now,” said political analyst Steve Swatt.
Swatt says this virtual call highlights Newsom wants to be the face of resistance against the Trump administration.
“You can’t help but think that he is looking ahead to 2028,” Swatt said.
Swatt says aside from Presidential aspirations, Newsom looks to protect state policies such as abortion, immigration, and the environment.
“California has been able to regulate tail pipe emissions and other environmental policies that go further than the federal government does,” Swatt said. “The first go around since the 2016 election, President Trump tried to stop California from doing that and California fought back and won that battle.”
Newsom says the state will stand firm.
“This is a moment where you have got to focus on what you can control, and what we can control is our response to this moment,” said Newsom.
The Governor also told the Democratic voters not to fear the future and not to regret the past.
