The political clash between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the Republican Party has intensified, with House Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent remarks calling for Newsom to be “tarred and feathered.”
This latest escalation adds fuel to the growing firestorm surrounding the ongoing protests in Los Angeles, which were sparked by the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. As tensions continue to rise, both sides have worked to control the political narrative surrounding the crisis.
Johnson’s Remarks and the Controversy
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s controversial comments came during a press conference in Washington on Tuesday. When asked about the escalating situation in Los Angeles, Johnson responded by suggesting that Governor Newsom should be “tarred and feathered,” accusing him of failing to uphold law and order amidst the protests.
Johnson also criticized Newsom for filing a lawsuit against President Trump’s decision to send federalized National Guard troops to California, calling the lawsuit “a joke” and urging Newsom to “do your job” as a governor.
The term “tarred and feathered” refers to a violent form of public punishment that dates back to the American Revolution, where individuals were covered in hot tar and feathers as a means of humiliation.
Newsom swiftly responded on social media, pointing out the absurdity of Johnson’s comments, calling it a “fitting threat” from the GOP, which he claims wants to take the country back to the 18th century.
Political Back-and-Forth
The fiery remarks come on the heels of a heated exchange between Newsom and the Republican party. Over the weekend, White House border czar Tom Homan suggested that California officials could face arrest for impeding immigration enforcement efforts.
Newsom shot back, daring Homan and other federal officials to detain him, challenging them to take action. Homan later clarified that his comments had been misinterpreted and that Newsom had done nothing warranting arrest.
The controversy escalated as Newsom filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration for unilaterally deploying the National Guard to respond to the protests in Los Angeles.
Newsom and other California leaders argue that this move infringes on the state’s sovereignty and undermines local authority, with Mayor Karen Bass calling it a “chaotic experiment” by the Trump administration to test how far it could go in seizing control over local matters.
The Role of Immigration Tactics in the Protests
The protests in Los Angeles were ignited by the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration tactics, including large-scale raids and arrests at sensitive locations like courthouses and immigration offices. Local Democratic leaders argue that these policies have triggered widespread outrage and unrest, particularly among immigrant communities.
The decision to federalize the state’s National Guard troops, against the wishes of local officials, has only added to the frustration, leading to the deployment of police officers, federalized National Guard troops, and Marines to quell the protests.
Senator John Fetterman, a prominent Democrat, has weighed in on the issue, accusing his fellow Democrats of losing the moral high ground. He condemned the violent actions of some protesters, such as setting cars on fire and assaulting law enforcement.
Fetterman emphasized his support for free speech and peaceful demonstrations but argued that the ongoing unrest had crossed the line into “anarchy and true chaos.”
The GOP’s Framing of the Situation
On the other hand, the GOP, including figures like White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, has framed the criticism from California Democrats as a direct challenge to federal authority.
Miller accused Los Angeles and California officials of undermining the election results and rejecting federal law, national sovereignty, and the constitutional principle of a unified national government. This framing casts the protests as an attack on federal power and an attempt to nullify the legitimacy of the government.
President Trump has even suggested that he might invoke the Insurrection Act, a law that would give the federal government the power to use active-duty military forces to make arrests and restore order during times of crisis.
This would represent a dramatic escalation in the federal response to the protests, further intensifying the already fraught political and social climate.