In an intriguing display of political theater, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom convened a press conference on Thursday evening, following a ruling by a Clinton-appointed judge that temporarily prohibited President Trump from mobilizing the California National Guard.
US District Judge Charles Breyer, the brother of the retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, granted Newsom a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), determining that Trump’s move to federalize the National Guard was unlawful.
With a hint of triumph, Newsom celebrated the judge’s decision during his press briefing. Following his opening remarks, he opened the floor to questions from reporters.
When pressed about a conversation he allegedly had with President Trump, Newsom initially claimed there had been no call. However, Trump later countered this assertion by sharing his call log, revealing that he had indeed reached out to Newsom. During this conversation, Trump reportedly urged Newsom to “get his ass in gear” and address the unrest in Los Angeles.
Newsom, defending his position with characteristic flair, remarked, “I would love to share the details, but I hold the office of the presidency in high regard, so I’ll keep it confidential. He has quite literally fabricated parts of our discussion. He’s lying through his teeth about what we spoke about.”
He went on to clarify, “He never mentioned the National Guard. Period. Full stop. I would love to divulge what we truly discussed. It would send shivers up your spine.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Gov. Newsom says if he told the public about his phone call with President Trump, “it would send shivers up your spine.” pic.twitter.com/yDButoZvMj
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 13, 2025
During the 20-minute press conference, Newsom launched into a critique of Trump, likening him to the oppressive rulers our Founding Fathers advised against.
This is quite ironic coming from Newsom himself, who has been accused of enforcing some of the most draconian Covid-19 measures through executive orders during the pandemic. His unilateral decisions resulted in California being governed by 57 executive orders, effectively sidelining the state legislature.
Moreover, while he imposed strict lockdowns on Californians, Newsom was spotted dining at the now-infamous French Laundry, raising eyebrows about his commitment to the very guidelines he enforced. This dichotomy has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by a series of photographs that suggest his dining experience was less than compliant with his own regulations.
EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 18, 2020
As a result of his controversial governance, a judge ultimately issued a permanent injunction restraining Newsom from further issuing unconstitutional Covid-related orders.
Watch the full press conference here:
Update: Later that same evening, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals intervened, temporarily blocking the Clinton judge’s restraining order and permitting Trump to deploy the National Guard.
