California Governor Gavin Newsom isn't letting go of his fight with Donald Trump over federal troops in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, he renewed his criticism of the president's decision to federalize California National Guard troops and deploy active-duty Marines to the city earlier this year, noting that some forces remain under federal control months after the June operation.

Fear and Federal Control

Newsom took to X with a blunt message: "Trump's ruthlessness is clear: he federalized 4,000 of our state's National Guard and sent 700 active duty Marines to threaten and invoke fear in the very people they have sworn to protect. Wake up to what is going on in this country."

He paired the post with video from his New York Times DealBook Summit interview, where he accused Trump of using those Guard members and Marines to "chill participation" in rallies. Newsom framed the months-long deployment as a violation of constitutional oaths and civil liberties, arguing the forces were meant to intimidate rather than protect.

Federal records confirm Trump ordered those forces to Los Angeles in June to quell protests over stepped-up immigration raids, over Newsom's objections. According to a Reuters report from late October, about 300 Guard troops remain federalized or on duty in the region.

China, CEOs, and Political Jabs

This isn't just about troops. Newsom's attacks on Trump's Guard moves are part of a broader campaign that includes clashes over energy and climate policy. He's previously charged that Trump's "reckless" agenda is letting China pull ahead in clean energy and battery storage.

At Wednesday's event, Newsom went after CEOs and financiers for "bowing" to Trump and chasing his favor. The comments echoed his recent launch of satirical "MAGA kneepads" targeting corporate and political Trump allies. He also criticized what he called Trump's "1,800s approach" to manufacturing and warned that "China understands the opportunity," pointing to Beijing's expanding influence in South America and Europe.

2028 Presidential Ambitions Take Shape

All this escalation comes as Newsom emerges as a leading prospect for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Polling aggregators like YouGov show him near the top of early preference surveys. When DealBook moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin asked about the front-runner buzz, Newsom said he was "humbled" but insisted he's not weighing a White House bid "to the degree that you think."

Which is exactly what someone weighing a White House bid would say.