Newsom throws tantrum as Trump reconsiders excessive California land grabs
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom expressed outrage at the Trump administration’s consideration of rescinding national monument status from two natural areas in California. These areas were protected by former President Joe Biden but are now at risk of losing that protection under the current administration.
Newsom criticized the move as petty and called on Trump to grow up. He accused the administration of waging a war on California, with the potential revocation of national monument status being just the latest example.
The Trump Justice Department issued a memo asserting that the president has the power to reverse previous administrations’ decisions regarding national monuments. This decision overturned a previous assertion that presidents could not abolish protected areas.
The administration’s concern is that keeping these large areas under federal control would prevent them from being developed for economic purposes in the future. Environmentalists have pushed back against this claim, arguing that the protection of these areas is vital for conservation efforts.
The Justice Department argued that previous monument designations could be revoked if they are found to no longer deserve protection under the Antiquities Act of 1906. This move has raised concerns among environmentalists and conservationists.
Chief Justice John Roberts has supported cases challenging the use of the Antiquities Act to restrict economic activities on federal lands and seabeds. Newsom has continued to spar with the Trump administration, mocking their actions and criticizing their policies.
In response to threats of arrest from Trump, Newsom joked about a faux advertisement for a podcast interview with Donald Trump Jr. He also accused the administration of trying to incite violence in Democrat-run states and criticized Republican lawmakers for their comments on California’s policies.
The ongoing feud between Newsom and the Trump administration highlights the deep divide between the two parties on issues of conservation, energy policy, and governance. As the debate continues, the future of California’s natural areas remains uncertain.
