Overview
- In the interview, the California governor labeled Trump "reckless" and said the U.S. will not have a fair and free election without continued resistance.
- He accused universities, major law firms, corporate leaders, and some politicians of "bending the knee" to the president, denouncing what he called crony capitalism.
- The comments were recorded during a Wednesday appearance on Ezra Klein’s New York Times podcast, with excerpts circulated in a video on X.
- Newsom’s critique follows earlier objections to federalizing California National Guard troops and sending Marines to Los Angeles for immigration enforcement, which he said threatened civil liberties.
- He has been discussed as a potential 2028 Democratic contender, with these remarks underscoring his role as a prominent voice against Trump.