Newsom rolls out California crime teams after blasting Trump for ‘militarizing cities’
California Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Deployment of Crime-Suppression Teams
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Governor Gavin Newsom of California revealed his plan on Thursday to send California Highway Patrol “crime-suppression teams” throughout the state to combat crime and enhance public safety.
In a statement, Newsom expressed, “While the Trump administration undermines cities, California is collaborating with them to produce tangible results. With these new deployments, we are strengthening these partnerships to build on progress and continue reducing crime.”
The officers will team up with local law enforcement in major cities such as Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Inland Empire, Central Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area, as per Newsom’s office.
The White House swiftly criticized Newsom’s crime initiative, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital, “After Newscum spent weeks criticizing the president’s highly successful efforts to crack down on crime, he’s reverted to his tried-and-true strategy: embracing and copying the Trump agenda.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Los Angeles on March 26, 2025. (Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
In response to the copycat accusation, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson acknowledged that “the more Democrats follow the president’s lead to crack down on crime, the better it is for the American people!”
“Stopping crime should not be a partisan exercise, but Democrats like Newscum have tried to make it one,” she added. “President Trump’s partnership with DC MPD has resulted in record drops in crime and countless dangerous criminals being removed from DC’s streets.”
During a news conference, Newsom criticized President Donald Trump for “militarizing American cities” amid the president’s crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C. His announcement followed remarks at POLITICO’s California Summit on Wednesday, where Newsom ridiculed the president’s “authoritarian tendencies.”
Newsom also criticized Trump for federalizing the National Guard in California without his request earlier this summer.
President Donald Trump visits the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility on Aug. 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Newsom’s office stated on Thursday that the deployment of CHP officers to crime-suppression teams in areas like Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino has already yielded positive results, including thousands of arrests, vehicle recoveries, and firearm confiscations.
“By pooling resources, intelligence, and personnel, we can effectively disrupt criminal activities and enhance the safety and security of communities across California,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
Newsom continued to criticize the Trump administration during the press conference, citing CDC data from 2023 to emphasize that if Trump truly wanted to address crime in the U.S., troops should be sent to states like Louisiana and Mississippi with significantly higher homicide rates than California.
California has invested $1.7 billion in crime-fighting efforts since 2019, leading to reductions in homicide, robbery, and property crime rates according to Major Cities Chiefs Association data.
Newsom’s announcement comes as some blue states and cities prepare for the potential deployment of National Guard troops to combat crime in their communities.
