Overview
- Trump said he is “amazed” Gavin Newsom would run for president during the Oval Office interview.
- He pointed to California’s high‑speed rail as a signature failure, branding it a “train to nowhere” with an estimated $135 billion price tag.
- The rail project’s goal has shifted from a 2020 completion to a limited Bakersfield–Merced segment targeted around 2030.
- His comments accompany administration moves that include lawsuits over sanctuary policies, fraud allegations, and efforts to claw back federal funds from the state.
- Trump confirmed a brief exchange with Newsom at the World Economic Forum in Davos as he said their relationship has deteriorated, while RealClearPolitics shows Newsom leading early 2028 Democratic primary polling at about 24%.