California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a stark warning that President Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to extend his grip on power beyond a second term. Speaking at Politico’s California Policy Summit, Newsom accused Trump of building “the world’s largest private police force” through a $75 billion ICE expansion and suggested the president has no intention of holding another election after 2028. His remarks ignited concern over what he described as authoritarian actions already underway.
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Private Police Force Claim
Newsom said Trump’s unprecedented $75 billion expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement would effectively create “the largest private police force in the world.” According to the governor, such a force risks allegiance not to the Constitution but directly to the president himself. “He’ll be sending them to voting booths and polling places all across this country,” Newsom cautioned, warning of dangerous implications for democratic elections.
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Trump’s Third Term Hints
Revealing details of a private White House meeting, Newsom recalled Trump gesturing toward a portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only president to serve more than two terms. “He showed me a painting. He said, ‘Turn around.’ And I said, ‘Oh, there’s FDR.’ And I went, ‘Of course.’ And he goes, he said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘I know exactly what you mean.’ And then he went on and on about the third term.” The governor added that Trump aides have sent him multiple “Trump 2028” hats, underscoring his suspicion that the president does not intend to step aside.
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Authoritarian Actions Alleged
Beyond rhetoric, Newsom argued Trump is already exercising authoritarian powers. He pointed to the president’s expanded use of National Guard deployments and the consolidation of resources into federal security forces. These steps, he claimed, mark a shift from “authoritarian tendencies” to “authoritarian actions,” raising alarms about the erosion of constitutional boundaries.
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Attacks On Voting Rights
Newsom highlighted Trump’s repeated calls to restrict voting access as evidence of election interference in plain sight. He noted Trump’s push to ban mail-in ballots, eliminate certain voting machines, and invoke emergency declarations to influence outcomes. “You’ve seen it. He tried to steal the last election. He’s trying to rig it in plain sight this time,” Newsom said, warning that democratic safeguards are being deliberately dismantled.
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Urgent Public Warning
At one point, Newsom interrupted moderator Chris Cadelago’s questioning to deliver a blunt message. “Wake up everybody! Wake up!” he exclaimed, urging Americans to recognize the stakes. He admitted his frustration, saying, “I know it’s impolite. We have to be more calm and demure. But I’m not calm and I’m not going to submit myself to niceties, not when this guy has tried to wreck our Goddamn country.”
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Political Context And Strategy
The governor also defended California’s redistricting efforts, framing them as a necessary response to Republican maneuvers in Texas. Newsom, who is widely considered a potential Democratic contender for 2028, used the summit to contrast California’s strategy with what he described as Trump’s deliberate dismantling of voting rights and institutional safeguards. His remarks underscored both the political stakes and his broader warning of democratic backsliding under Trump’s leadership.