California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Donald Trump a "stone cold liar" on Thursday, claiming the president never told him he would be sending National Guard troops to maintain order in Los Angeles.
"It didn't appear to me when I talked to him. He never brought it up. Period, full stop, he lied about that. Yeah, last Friday night. He lied. He lied. My mother and dad's grave. I don't mess around when I say this. He lied. Stone cold liar. Don't think for a second he told the truth. He lied," Newsom said to host Michael Barbaro on The New York Times' "The Daily."
What began as a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Los Angeles over the weekend descended into a riot that's a week old. To quell the violence and restore order to the affected parts of LA, Trump has activated 4,000 National Guard troops.
Trump claimed he told Newsom about his intentions to use the National Guard during a Sunday morning phone call.
Newsom and his fellow Democrats in the Golden State have engaged in a blame game for the protesters who now have to face nearly 1,000 U.S. Marines. The rehotic has only become more heated as the week has gone on.
On Monday, a reporter asked Trump if border czar Tom Homan should arrest Newsom. Trump replied, "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great. Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing."
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.