Trump vs. California: From Sanctuary Cities to EV Bans, A Policy War Unfolds

President Donald Trump has turned California into his administration’s punching bag, relentlessly targeting the state’s progressive policies with a mix of executive orders, lawsuits, and fiery Truth Social posts. From sanctuary city designations to electric vehicle mandates, Trump’s clashes with Governor Gavin Newsom have reignited a feud that’s as much personal as it is political.

Just days after his November 2024 election victory, Trump took to Truth Social, slamming Newsom as “Governor Gavin Newscum” and accusing him of driving California into decline. “More people are leaving than coming in,” Trump wrote, mocking Newsom’s “Trump-Proof” rhetoric as a desperate attempt to block policies that could “Make California Great Again.” The president’s focus on California’s sanctuary status, which shields illegal immigrants from deportation, has led to a Department of Justice lawsuit against Los Angeles, with Attorney General Pam Bondi arguing that such policies fuel “violence, chaos, and attacks on law enforcement.”

Wildfires have been another flashpoint. Trump has long criticized Newsom’s handling of fire prevention, pointing to recent Los Angeles blazes as evidence of mismanagement. He claimed Newsom refused a “water restoration declaration” to prioritize a “worthless fish called a smelt” over human lives, leaving firefighters without adequate resources. Newsom’s office fired back, calling the declaration “pure fiction” and emphasizing their focus on protecting Californians. Trump’s response? An executive order titled “Putting People over Fish”, redirecting water to Southern California to combat fires and support farmers.

The administration’s aggressive moves don’t stop there. Trump signed resolutions in June 2025 to dismantle California’s ambitious electric vehicle mandates, including a plan to ban gasoline-only car sales by 2035. “They have blackouts and brownouts, and they want you to buy electric cars,” Trump quipped, arguing the state’s grid can’t handle the demand. Newsom called the move an “assault on California’s clean air,” filing a lawsuit to fight back.

Immigration raids in Los Angeles sparked riots in June, with locals clashing with federal agents. Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members to quell the violence, bypassing Newsom’s authority, prompting the state to sue over the “federalization” of its Guard. Meanwhile, Trump’s team has scrutinized California’s education policies, threatening to cut funding for sex education programs that include gender identity lessons and probing potential Title IX violations over transgender athletes in girls’ sports.

Even California’s high-speed rail project, a $106 billion dream, hasn’t escaped Trump’s ire. In February, he called for an audit, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noting the project’s 17-year, $16 billion black hole with no tracks laid. Trump’s blunt assessment: “It’s out of control.”

While Newsom touts achievements like a $750 million film industry tax credit, Trump’s White House dismisses him as a 2028 presidential hopeful “daydreaming” instead of governing. The ongoing war of words and policies shows no sign of cooling, with California standing as a battleground for Trump’s vision of America.