California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) shrugged off a derogatory nickname from President Donald Trump on Thursday night after a federal judge sided with the state in its legal challenge to block federal control of the California National Guard during recent protests in Los Angeles.
The case stems from the Trump administration’s attempt to federalize the state’s National Guard in response to civil unrest. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer issued a temporary restraining order, halting the administration’s efforts. In his ruling, the judge noted that the plaintiffs had “demonstrated that the balance of equities tips in their favor and that an injunction restraining the President’s use of military force in Los Angeles is in the public interest.”
Speaking to reporters following the decision, Newsom celebrated the legal victory and took the opportunity to respond to one of Trump’s long-standing jabs—his mocking nickname for the governor: “Newscum.”
“I learned about it when I saw some tweet about ‘Governor Newscum,’” Newsom said, referencing the moment he discovered the Trump administration’s intent to override his authority over the Guard. “A nickname, by the way, that’s hardly original. There was an eighth grader on Baltimore Street in Corte Madera who used to call me that.”
Newsom added that he first became aware of the federal move to take control of the National Guard through the same tweet that included the insult. “And the reference to the National Guard being commandeered in that same tweet—that’s how I learned about it,” he said.
The governor’s calm reaction stood in contrast to the seriousness of the legal dispute, which revolves around the president’s power to deploy military resources domestically without state approval. California argued that the attempted federalization of its National Guard troops infringed upon state sovereignty and was an overreach of executive authority.
Legal analysts noted the significance of Judge Breyer’s ruling, suggesting it sets a precedent limiting the president’s authority to unilaterally deploy National Guard troops in states that oppose such action.
The Trump administration has not yet commented on the judge’s ruling or whether it plans to appeal the temporary restraining order. In the meantime, Newsom appears focused on both maintaining California’s autonomy and keeping the discourse measured—even when faced with schoolyard-style insults from the president.