California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump and his administration of maintaining a "relentless, unhinged California obsession," using his annual State of the State letter to the legislature to both praise the state’s recent achievements and catalog clashes with the federal government.
In a letter distributed on the 175th anniversary of California statehood, Newsom said the state is "nine months into a battle to protect the values we hold most dear and to preserve the economic and social foundation we built for California." He said the administration is "built on incompetence and malicious ignorance" and warned residents that the state would not "cower in the face of this onslaught." Newsom also posted a shortened prerecorded version of the address on social media; he has not delivered a formal State of the State speech in three years, instead opting for letters and videos.
Newsom detailed a series of federal actions and policy disputes that he said demonstrated Washington’s antagonism toward California. He pointed to immigration enforcement operations that targeted migrant workers, federal deployments of the National Guard and Marines to the Los Angeles area to respond to demonstrations and support immigration enforcement, and the administration’s suspension of funding to the University of California, Los Angeles, over allegations of antisemitism on campus.
He also cited the federal government’s decision to reduce funding for California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project, the rollback of a state rule barring the sale of new gas-powered vehicles, and a federal lawsuit challenging a California law that allows transgender girls to compete on school sports teams consistent with their gender identity. California has filed 41 lawsuits against the federal government, Newsom noted, and earlier this year state lawmakers approved $50 million to the state Department of Justice and other legal groups to defend the state’s policies.
The letter highlighted what Newsom described as California’s resilience and accomplishments, including rapid recovery efforts after recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area, progress in technology and green energy, investments in education, a tax credit program aimed at reviving Hollywood productions, and mobilization of tens of thousands of young volunteers.
State Republicans criticized Newsom’s focus on the federal standoff and his growing national profile, saying it came at the expense of addressing persistent state problems. James Gallagher, the Republican leader of the California State Assembly, said Newsom should "stop refusing to show up and actually do the work of being a governor" and pointed to ongoing budget deficits, a homelessness crisis and high costs of living as unmet priorities. Gallagher also criticized Newsom’s support for a U.S. House redistricting plan that lawmakers say is designed to boost Democratic chances ahead of the 2026 midterm elections; the plan was framed by Democrats as a response to a similar, Republican-backed effort in Texas.
Newsom’s rhetoric and national prominence have drawn attention from both supporters and critics. He is widely viewed by Democrats and some political observers as a potential presidential contender in 2028, a perception that state GOP leaders used to argue he is prioritizing national ambitions over state governance. Newsom’s letter reiterated his view that California should continue to defend what he described as progressive policies and the state’s autonomy in the face of federal challenges.
The disputes between California and the Trump administration reflect broader tensions over immigration, education policy, environmental regulation and federal funding. Legal battles and policy clashes between the state and the federal government are likely to continue, with both sides using litigation, funding decisions and regulatory authority to press their positions.
Newsom’s State of the State letter came as California lawmakers and the governor navigate preparations for upcoming legislative sessions and legal fights, while also responding to immediate state needs such as wildfire recovery and economic pressures facing residents. The letter frames the relationship with the federal government as a central challenge for the state as it seeks to implement its policy agenda and protect programs it calls essential to California’s future.