A bitter feud between US President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken a dramatic turn. The two clashed over a phone call, with Trump claiming he called Newsom to criticize his handling of protests, while Newsom denied the call ever happened.
The controversy began when Trump sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles without Newsom’s request. Newsom then criticized Trump’s decision, leading to a heated exchange between the two leaders. According to CNN, Newsom’s office initially said the governor had called Trump on Friday, June 7, and they spoke for about 40 minutes.
However, on Tuesday, June 11, Trump told reporters he had called Newsom the day before to tell him to “do a better job” because he was “doing a terrible job.” Newsom quickly denied this, saying there was no call, no message, and accusing Trump of sending troops to California streets without even knowing who he was talking to.
Trump then called CNN’s John Roberts on Tuesday afternoon, saying he had called Newsom twice, and the second call was answered. He claimed they spoke for 16 minutes, and he told Newsom to stop the “out-of-control” riots. Trump even shared a screenshot of his phone record as proof.
The situation has highlighted a breakdown in communication between the White House and California’s leadership amid violent protests in Los Angeles. While Trump and Newsom have given conflicting accounts, one thing is clear: the relationship between the two leaders has reached a new low.
As the protests continue, the feud between Trump and Newsom has sparked a wider debate about the role of the federal government in responding to civil unrest. With the situation showing no signs of easing, it remains to be seen how this bitter dispute will play out in the days ahead.