The fight between President Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom over unrest in Los Angeles reached new heights on Monday, with Trump saying he’d support the arrest of one of the top Democrats in the country and a possible presidential contender in 2028.

Escalating protests in the City of Angels over raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have pitted the two leaders together in a clash that has obvious political opportunities for Trump and risks for Newsom.

For Trump, California provides a reliable foil as he aggressively pushes a crackdown on immigration. The images of burning cars and masked men waving Mexican flags form the perfect for the “law and order” message the Trump White House says it will impose on the nation.

And the images are weapons to use in Trump’s argument that Democrats are too soft and unable to keep cities safe from violent unrest.

There are opportunities for Newsom, too, as the battle provides a chance for the high-profile Democrat to stand up to Trump in a way that could bolster his standing the liberal grassroots.

“The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America,” Newsom posted Monday on X shortly after Trump’s comments about arresting him.

“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Yet there are clear risks for Newsom as well if voters see him as too soft on those committing criminal acts in Los Angeles. Team Trump on Monday pushed its argument that the California leader and other Democrats cannot be trusted to keep the peace after Newsom said his state would sue the administration over its decision to send the National Guard to L.A.........

© The Hill