Gavin Newsom Has Surprised All of Us and Done Something Intelligent: Sen. John Kennedy [WATCH]

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said Friday that President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on crime is pushing Democratic leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, to take stronger action in their own states.

Kennedy’s comments came during an appearance on Fox News’ America Reports, where he linked Newsom’s recent decision to deploy state police teams in California’s largest cities to Trump’s warnings that he may send the National Guard into cities plagued by violence.

“[Newsom] has surprised all of us and done something intelligent. He has decided to send the California state police into his major cities to help local cops fight crime and violence. Now you don’t have to be a senior at Caltech to know that’s in response to the Trump administration’s threat to send in federal law enforcement officials, but look, I’ll take it. If that’s what it takes to get Governor Newsom to stop being a princess, I’ll take that too,” Kennedy said.

Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

The president has floated deploying National Guard troops to several cities experiencing surges in crime, including Baltimore, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, and New York City.

He has also suggested sending troops to San Francisco, which has faced persistent concerns about crime and public disorder.

Newsom, however, denied that his decision was in response to Trump’s threats.

According to Politico, the California governor said his actions were taken independently and stood in “contrast” to the president’s strategy in Washington, D.C.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

[esi random_video_player ttl=”0″]

Earlier this summer, Trump ordered the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department and mobilized the National Guard in the nation’s capital.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday that the measures in Washington led to 1,369 arrests and the confiscation of 140 illegal firearms.

In his response to Kennedy’s remarks, Newsom argued that Louisiana’s crime rate is higher than California’s.

“Louisiana’s crime rate is four times higher than California’s,” Newsom said Thursday, defending his record.

Kennedy countered that California’s crime problem has worsened during Newsom’s time as governor.

“Every year that [Newsom] has been governor, crime and violence has gotten worse in California,” Kennedy said.

He attributed the rise in crime to the governor’s political positions.

“Why? Because Governor Newsom is a member of the socialist wing of his party. Because Governor Newsom has refused to get off of his ice cold lazy butt and do something about it. Because Governor Newsom thinks that talking about crime, [and] he’s only doing it under pressure, is racist. Because he thinks the cops are a bigger problem than criminals.”

The exchange highlights the growing political clash between Trump and Democratic governors over crime and law enforcement policy.

Trump has made public safety a central issue, pointing to federal actions in Washington, D.C., as a model for cities facing crime surges.

Newsom has resisted comparisons, emphasizing differences in approach while moving to expand state-level enforcement through the deployment of California Highway Patrol units in major cities.

The California deployments come as both state and federal officials face mounting pressure to address rising public concerns over crime across the country.

With Trump signaling further federal action and Republican leaders like Kennedy attributing Democratic moves to White House pressure, the issue is expected to remain at the forefront of national debate leading into the midterm elections.