Newsom Fires Back: “Bring It On”
California Governor Gavin Newsom is not folding under pressure—and he’s definitely not running from Donald Trump’s arrest threats. Amid rising tensions over immigration raids and local resistance in Los Angeles, Newsom had some bold words for Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan.
Tom Homan came out with fire over the weekend, saying federal immigration agents will continue operating in L.A. even if city leaders object. Homan accused leaders like Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of potentially “harboring” undocumented immigrants and even hinted at possible arrests.
“I’ll be clear,” Homan said. “You cross that line, and it’s a felony to knowingly harbor or conceal someone undocumented. It’s a crime to get in the way of law enforcement doing their job.”
But Newsom wasn’t having it. In an interview with MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff, he clapped back with a now-viral quote that had social media buzzing.
“Oh, he’s a tough guy? Why doesn’t he just make it happen? He knows where to find me,” Newsom declared. “That kind of talk is tiring. So, Tom, bring it on. Let’s do this.”
Newsom’s words echoed the frustration many in L.A. feel. The community has been pushing back against ICE raids, family separations, and now, aggressive rhetoric from the Trump camp.
Mayor Karen Bass Responds to Federal Threats
While Newsom went head-to-head with Homan’s threats, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass took a more diplomatic—but equally firm—approach. She made it clear that Homan’s words were out of pocket and served no real purpose.
“He had no reason to say that at all,” Bass said during a weekend press briefing. “I spoke with him last night, and he knows I’m the mayor of this city. The last thing I want is a brawl with the federal government. That just didn’t make any sense.”
Bass also mentioned she’s not calling in the National Guard or escalating anything, but that doesn’t mean she’s stepping down or letting feds run over city leadership.
Donald Trump Doubles Down But White House Walks It Back
Of course, Trump couldn’t let the moment pass. Backing Homan, Trump told reporters that “officials who obstruct law and order” will “face judges.” On Monday, he went even further and said, “I would do it if I were Tom.”
But hold up—because behind closed doors, it seems like the White House isn’t actually planning to put anyone in cuffs. Two officials told NBC News that there’s no real push to arrest Newsom or Bass right now.
“It’s not being actively considered,” one senior official said. “But anyone who breaks federal law puts themselves at risk of arrest. That’s just the reality.”
This back-and-forth drama is giving more political theater than actual legal action. But it’s also fueling even deeper divides between red-state federal leadership and blue-state local control—especially in California, where immigration, protest, and sanctuary laws have become hot-button issues.