California Fights Back: Gavin Newsom Calls Out Trump's Authoritarian Lies In Stunning Press Conference

As Trump deploys Marines in LA, Newsom responds with facts, fire, and a warning to America: This is how authoritarians seize power.

June 11, 2025

LOS ANGELES, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom has had enough.

After days of rising tension and military escalation on the streets of Los Angeles, the California governor stood up and called it exactly what it is: a political stunt, a lie, and a dangerous authoritarian overreach. And he did it live, on national television.

"He's a stone-cold liar... There is no working with Donald Trump. There is only working for him. And I will never work for Donald Trump."

That’s Newsom, blunt and unfiltered, as he dismantled Donald Trump’s narrative that California is burning, that Los Angeles is under siege by migrant gangs, and that military occupation is the only solution. None of it is true. And Newsom wasn’t the only one saying so — the data, crime reports, local leaders, and peaceful protests all tell a different story.

This blog post is about what’s really happening in California. It’s about the playbook Donald Trump is using to justify deploying federal forces into American cities. And it’s about how the rest of the country — leaders, journalists, citizens — can fight back.

What Newsom Actually Said: Facts vs. Fear

In a searing series of interviews, Newsom laid out the truth: Trump didn’t save Los Angeles — he lit the match.

"We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. He’s creating the conditions he claims to be solving."

Newsom revealed that Trump never even brought up the National Guard during their private calls. He blindsided the state. Then he lied about it. Then he used it to take credit for “restoring order” in a city that wasn’t out of control to begin with.

"It’s Orwellian. He lied — flat-out lied — and claimed the Guard had restored peace before they were even deployed."

"Donald Trump is the sponsor of these conditions. He sent in troops to provoke, not protect."

📊 The Facts: Los Angeles Is Not on Fire

Let’s fact-check the dystopian fantasy Trump’s selling:

Trump ClaimReality Check:

Let’s be clear: there was no “Migrant Invasion.” That’s a fascist trope being used to justify sending troops into an American city.

The Real Threat: Trump’s Authoritarian Playbook

This isn’t about California. It’s about a president testing the limits of power.

Step 1: Invent a crisis.

Step 2: Send in military force to “fix” it.

Step 3: Take credit while silencing critics.

Sound familiar? Because it should. This is the same playbook used by authoritarians across history. Trump isn’t saving cities. He’s occupying them.

"He timed the troop deployment around his birthday. That’s what dictators do. This wasn’t about public safety — it was about optics and control."

Newsom filed an emergency lawsuit, calling Trump’s move unconstitutional and dangerous. And he didn’t stop there.

"California may be first. But it won’t end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next."

How We Fight Back

Newsom’s message is clear — and it’s a blueprint for every governor, mayor, journalist, and citizen who gives a damn about democracy.

1. Tell the Truth — Loudly

Don’t let lies take root. When Trump lies, call it a lie. When he invents chaos, shine a spotlight on reality. Share facts, cite sources, and expose propaganda. Newsom’s strategy should be America’s strategy.

2. Use the Law

Newsom sued. Other states should follow if Trump tries the same stunt elsewhere. The courts may be slow, but they are one of the few remaining guardrails.

3. Organize Peaceful Protest

Peaceful protest is the core of American democracy. It’s protected. It’s powerful. And it works. Organizers in LA are showing the country what real resistance looks like.

4. Vote Like Democracy Depends On It

Because it does. Every level of government matters right now — from Congress to your city council. Vote out the cowards. Elect people who will stand up.

Final Word: Authoritarians Don’t Blink

Newsom didn’t mince words. He didn’t dance around the truth. He stood in front of a camera and said the President of the United States is a liar, a manipulator, and a threat to American democracy.

That’s leadership.

"This is the beginning of something dangerous if we don’t stop it now. And I’m not going to be silent while he tries to turn California into his personal military theater."

We shouldn’t be silent either.

This is how you fight Trump: with facts. With courage. With resistance.

Let California be the front line — and the warning.