California Governor Gavin Newsom in the Headlines on September 3, 2025

SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Governor Gavin Newsom featured prominently in multiple political clashes and legal maneuvers on Wednesday, emphasizing his ongoing feud with former President Donald Trump and other national figures.

Trump Targets Newsom’s “Hands” During a meeting in the Oval Office with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Donald Trump bizarrely suggested there was “something wrong” with Newsom’s hands, mocking the California governor’s visible bruises and alleged use of makeup to conceal them. Trump’s jab came amid swirling speculation over wildfire management in California, prompting online observers to decry the president’s remarks as hypocritical given his own well-documented hand bruising.

In swift counterpunches on social media, Newsom’s team reposted video clips of Trump’s physical gaffes-tripping on Air Force One stairs and stumbling during public appearances-and quipped, “We talking hands?” The governor also shared an AI chatbot screenshot describing dementia symptoms, underlining his attack on Trump’s cognitive fitness.

Newsom Seeks Injunction Against Federal Troop Deployment In the wake of a federal judge’s ruling that former President Trump unlawfully federalized California National Guard troops over the summer, Newsom filed for a preliminary injunction on Tuesday to bar further federalization through Election Day. The governor argued there is “no need” for troops to remain deployed in Los Angeles communities and warned that continued deployment would amount to a form of “military occupation” until November 5th.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined Newsom in asserting that the Trump Administration’s order to retain 300 National Guard members under federal command is “absurd” and violates federal law. The state’s legal filing asks the court to block any implementation of this latest order.

Newsom and House Speaker Johnson Exchange Barbs Over Tragedy Commentary On Wednesday afternoon, Newsom responded to criticism from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over his remarks about the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Johnson labeled Newsom’s call for action on gun control-over “thoughts and prayers”-as “anti-Christian rhetoric” and “sick.” In turn, Newsom quoted biblical scripture on social media, highlighting Johnson’s use of religious language to deflect criticism and defend faith-based responses to violence.

Johnson had told reporters that only prayer could “save” Newsom from moral decay, to which the governor retorted by resharing Johnson’s own words in a video post, underscoring his embrace of both scripture and satire in the ongoing political feud.