Overview

• Newsom’s press office wrote on X, “Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today. You’re welcome, America,” early Saturday.
• Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said he referred the post to the Secret Service for a full threat assessment; the agency acknowledged receipt and said it will investigate but has released no findings.
• DHS public affairs chief Tricia McLaughlin said the message “reads like a threat,” and Trump officials including Steven Cheung denounced it, citing heightened tensions after Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
• Hours later, Newsom signed SB 627, which bans most law enforcement from covering their faces during operations starting Jan. 1, 2026, and SB 805, which immediately requires officers, including federal immigration agents, to display a name or badge number and restricts bounty hunters from immigration activity.
• Newsom’s office tied the post to the bill signings and framed the laws as protecting immigrant communities, while federal officials argued the measures endanger agents; Essayli later asserted the new law would not affect federal operations.