Newsom Mocks Miller’s ‘Terrorism’ Rant in MAGA Meltdown

Governor Gavin Newsom ridiculed White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller after the Trump adviser accused Democrats of waging “terrorism” with their crime policies during a Fox News appearance on September 9, 2025.

Newsom’s jibe underscores deepening rifts between California’s leadership and the Trump administration as Miller seized on the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee in Charlotte to cast Democratic crime approaches as an existential threat to Americans’ safety.

Miller’s ‘Terrorism’ Charge

  • On Fox News with Sean Hannity, Miller claimed Democratic “release of barbarians” amounts to an act of terrorism against U.S. citizens.
  • He argued that progressive crime policies celebrate predators and endanger public security.

Newsom’s Response

Governor Newsom took to X to lampoon Miller’s outburst, quipping that the deputy chief was again placing himself at the center of attention. The California governor has frequently parodied Miller’s television rants, highlighting a pattern of inflammatory commentary.

Context and Backlash

Miller’s remarks followed the August 22 stabbing death of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light-rail train. The suspect, charged with first-degree murder, had an extensive criminal and mental-health history, fueling Miller’s allegations against Democratic-led cities.

Critics note that FBI data show violent crime fell by 4 percent in 2024, with murders dropping nearly 15 percent, continuing into 2025-trends that contrast sharply with Miller’s depiction of urban “war zones.”

Broader Political Stakes

  • Trump allies have seized on Zarutska’s killing to threaten federal interventions in Democratic cities, including deploying agents and National Guard troops.
  • Right-wing media have amplified Miller’s narrative, portraying crime declines in red states as irrelevant and branding Democratic jurisdictions as inherently unsafe.

Newsom’s public ridicule of Miller reflects California’s broader strategy of countering federal immigration and law-enforcement actions, setting the stage for continued clashes between state and national leaders over crime, immigration, and political theater.