Newsom warns Trump risks democracy, US on brink of authoritarianism

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Politico
28 Aug 2025 14:33
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California's Governor has accused US immigration agencies of acting as a private police force loyal to Trump and warned of threats to election security.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 (AP)

California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a stark warning during an interview for Politico, warning that the United States is edging toward authoritarianism. He claimed that President Donald Trump may not intend to leave office after his term and accused federal immigration authorities of functioning as “the largest private police force in history.”

Speaking at POLITICO’s California Agenda: Sacramento Summit on Wednesday, Newsom urged the audience to “wake up” to what he described as escalating threats to democratic institutions. He said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents were prioritizing loyalty to Trump over the American public.

Newsom warned that federal officers could eventually be stationed at polling places across the country, raising concerns about election security and voter intimidation.

“When they’re done with this, all that funding and that ‘big beautiful betrayal’ allows more resources for this private police force that increasingly is showing a tendency not to swear an oath to the Constitution, but to the president of the United States,” he stressed.

He then issued a chilling prediction, “I don’t think Donald Trump wants another election.” Newsom added that he had received dozens of “Trump 2028” hats from supporters of the president, suggesting that dismissing the possibility of a third term would be “naive.”

Oval Office meeting fuels speculation

Recalling a February meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, Newsom said the president gestured toward a painting of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only US president to serve more than two terms. The California governor interpreted the moment as a subtle indication of Trump’s desire to follow a similar path.

While Trump has said this month that he would “probably not” pursue a third term, which would violate the Constitution, Newsom argued that the president’s actions suggest otherwise.

Throughout the interview, Newsom adopted an unyielding tone, pressing Democrats to take a firmer stance against Trump. He quoted former President Bill Clinton’s observation on American politics: “Given the choice, the American people always support strong and wrong versus weak or not.”

Newsom concluded, “We’re losing this country in real time. It’s not bloviation, not exaggeration. It’s happening.”

The governor also addressed his own increasingly combative online presence. His team has stepped up the use of satirical memes and AI-generated content targeting Trump and Republican leaders.

“We have a ‘Kill Switch,’” Newsom quipped when asked whether he personally approves the posts, adding that he’s “killing less every day," a remark that drew laughter from the audience.