President-elect Trump hits back at Gov. Newsom over plans to ‘Trump-proof’ California
Trump’s response criticized California’s “insane” policies on water, homelessness and gas prices. He also said he would be demanding voter identification at the polls and proof of citizenship during the voting process.
Trump’s response criticized California’s “insane” policies on water, homelessness and gas prices. He also said he would be demanding voter identification at the polls and proof of citizenship during the voting process.
Trump’s response criticized California’s “insane” policies on water, homelessness and gas prices. He also said he would be demanding voter identification at the polls and proof of citizenship during the voting process.
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday slammed California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for a special legislative session to protect the state’s progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of Trump’s presidency.
Using a derisive word for Newsom on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused the governor of “trying to KILL our Nation’s beautiful California” and said that's why "more people are leaving than are coming in.”
(Video above: Trump presents political opportunity for California Governor Newsom, AG Bonta.)
“He is using the term ‘Trump-Proof’ as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to ‘Make California Great Again,’ but I just overwhelmingly won the Election,” Trump wrote.
California’s population increased by 67,000 people in 2023, which the state attributed to an increase in legal immigration and natural population increase. It was the state’s first net increase since 2020. More people still left California for other states in 2023 than moved from other states, but at levels close to pre-pandemic trends, The Associated Press reported.
On Thursday, Newsom said the special session in December would consider legislation to provide more funding to the state’s Department of Justice and other agencies for use in legal fights against the incoming Trump administration.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared to fight in the courts, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”
Trump’s response to Newsom also criticized California’s “insane” policies on water, homelessness and gas prices.
Trump ended by saying he would be demanding voter identification at the polls and proof of citizenship during the voting process.
A 1996 law bans noncitizens from voting in federal elections and no state allows noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
But the issue is something Republicans have championed. During this election cycle, voters in eight Republican-led states approved state constitutional amendments declaring that only citizens can vote.
California voter ID law
As it relates to voter identification, Newsom signed legislation this year that counters a voter ID requirement adopted by Huntington Beach.
Senate Bill 1174 prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing a requirement that a person must show identification when voting.
The bill notes that California requires people to provide a driver’s license number, California identification number or the last four digits of their Social Security number to register to vote. The state also uses signature verification checks and mandatory partial recounts to ensure election integrity.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has also filed a lawsuit against Huntington Beach’s voter ID rule, arguing that it could make it harder for poor, non-white, young, elderly and disabled voters to cast ballots.
Republican proposal for proof of citizenship with registering
At the federal level, House Republicans proposed a bill that would require states to obtain proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport when registering a person to vote. The measure, which was attached to a bill to keep the federal government funded for six months, failed. The bill would have been a non-starter in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Going forward, Republicans will control the U.S. Senate. As of Friday, control of the U.S. House remained in the balance.
It's not yet clear if the measure will be revived.
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Editor's Note (Nov. 11, 2024): This story has been updated to provide more context about California's recent population changes.