Trump Says Tom Homan Should Arrest Gavin Newsom as Riots in LA Rage

President Donald Trump said his border czar, Tom Homan, should arrest Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the riots in Los Angeles continue.

Newsom dared Homan to arrest him after NBC News aired a clip of the border czar warning that any government official can face federal charges if they obstruct immigration enforcement as wide-scale riots break out across Los Angeles. Trump responded to Newsom’s dare, saying he would do it if he was the border czar.

“Gavin Newsom is daring Tom Homan to come and arrest him. Should he do it?” Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Trump on Monday.

“I would do it, if I were Tom,” Trump responded with a smirk.

“Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing. He’s done a terrible job. Look, I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent,” the president continued. “Everybody knows all you have to do is look at the little railroad he’s building. It’s about 100 times over budget.”

🚨 WATCH: TRUMP BLASTS NEWSOM: “He’s done a terrible job. He’s grossly incompetent.”

“Look at the little railroad he’s building, it’s about 100 times over budget.”

“The people who are causing problems are paid agitators.. they should be in jail!” pic.twitter.com/pqcQePDMt6

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) June 9, 2025

Homan disputed the report from NBC News that he was threatening to arrest Newsom, saying he was interviewed in a “dishonest” manner. NBC News later said that it stands by its reporting.

“I’m not biting on that. The NBC reporter interviewed me very dishonest[ly]. We did a 20-minute interview and it cuts out a little clip that takes my words out of context,” Homan said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“Here’s what we said, and I talked about these people that are in these protests and rioting, when they cross the line. They have a right to protest, they have First Amendment rights. But they can’t cross that line … They can’t cross that line of putting their hands on officers, they can’t cross that line of knowingly concealing an illegal alien. It’s all in [federal] statute and they will be prosecuted,” Homan continued.

Unrest broke out in Los Angeles after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 100 illegal immigrants in raids, including drug traffickers and gang members. The unrest turned to violence as some anti-Trump protesters burned cars and threw Molotov cocktails, rocks and fireworks. Some property was defaced with slogans like “KILL ICE.”

In response to the violent protests, Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles on Saturday. The move was met with backlash from Newsom and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy,” Newsom said. “You know, I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community, I care about this community. The hell are they doing? These guys need to grow up, they need to stop and we need to push back and I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is disgusting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go.”