He made the claim in a podcast interview with journalist Kara Swisher, where he accused Trump of trying to consolidate control over U.S. elections for decades to come. Several social media users accused Newsom of essentially admitting that illegal aliens have been voting in the stateโs elections.
โWe have to recognize that there are no limits with this guy. If he could rig next yearโs election โฆ I mean, we joke about not having another [election], I donโt think thatโs a joke. He will wire this for the next 20 to 30 years. If itโs a JD โฆ it doesnโt even matter,โ Newsom claimed. โHe will wire it.โ
โHeโs already sending out masked people to intimidate folks,โ Newsom said, likely a reference to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have begun hiding their faces after some Democrats began doxing them and putting their families at risk.
โWhen we launched our campaign, did it down in Little Tokyo in LA โ do you think ICE is not going to show up around voting and polling booths to chill participation? And you know that โ the National Guard โ you know that,โ Newsom said.
WATCH:
Gavin Newsom warns ICE agents will "show up around voting and polling booths to chill participation"
What an odd thing to say… pic.twitter.com/K7dzBssmO4
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 29, 2025
Several users on X said Newsom tacitly admitted people in the country illegally have been voting in the Golden State.
There is no indication that ICE, the agency tasked with immigration enforcement, has any role in monitoring or operating at polling sites.
If youโre a legal citizen and can legally vote, you donโt have a problem. Itโs amazing that he can say โrule of lawโ without bursting into flames.
— Logical Zeb (@LogicalZeb) August 29, 2025
Basically admitting that illegals are voting in California. This man needs to be jailed
— Doc_Catalyst๐บ๐ธ (@trailrockk39332) August 29, 2025
Oh well, why is @GavinNewsom panicking? If thereโs no illegal voting in our county, no one should be worried. I fully support ICE being around, and Iโd feel even safer if the cops are there too, just in case some extreme liberal maniac shows up to hurt innocent people.
— Zough Lina (@GodisKing2024) August 30, 2025
Oh well, why is @GavinNewsom panicking? If thereโs no illegal voting in our county, no one should be worried. I fully support ICE being around, and Iโd feel even safer if the cops are there too, just in case some extreme liberal maniac shows up to hurt innocent people.
— Zough Lina (@GodisKing2024) August 30, 2025
An admission of guilt.
— Scott Free (@NosieRosieDosie) August 29, 2025
Newsom also claimed Trump plans to run again in 2028, despite the 22nd Amendmentโs prohibition on serving more than two presidential terms. โI donโt think Donald Trump wants another election โฆ I have two dozen Trump 2028 hats his folks keep sending me,โ Newsom told Politico earlier. โโฆ this is serious, guys. This is serious.โ
He suggested that Trumpโs behavior and the presence of merchandise promoting a 2028 campaign should be seen as a sign of intent.
โYou think when he brings foreign leaders to the Oval Office and he goes to the White House store โ have you seen this? Anyone? Is it just me? โ and he shows them the 2028 hats, heโs not being serious? Wake up. You will lose your country,โ Newsom ranted.
The governorโs remarks come amid ongoing debates over election security, voter access, and federal authority in state-run elections. To that point, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that an executive order requiring voter ID in all federal elections would be forthcoming.
โVoter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!โ Trumpย wrote. โAlso, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military.โ
