California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a sharp public rebuke of the Trump administration, following news that the Justice Department has confirmed the president has the authority to rescind national monument designations established under former President Joe Biden. In a series of posts on social media, Newsom dismissed the move as ‘petty,’ suggesting that Trump’s actions reflect a lack of maturity in the handling of federal land policy. His office also framed the administration’s decision as part of a broader conflict over California’s environmental protections and the use of federal lands.
The Justice Department memo has reignited a long-standing debate over the interpretation of the Antiquities Act of 1906, which grants the president the power to designate or remove national monuments. The memo overturns a 1938 assertion by former Attorney General Homer Cummings that such designations were irreversible, effectively reinstating the president’s ability to repeal them. This legal shift has sparked tensions between environmentalists, who argue that these areas are integral to ecological preservation, and the Trump administration, which has emphasized the potential for economic development through the repurposing of these lands.
Newsom’s criticism has extended beyond the issue of national monuments, with the governor also addressing recent allegations from the Trump administration that he could be arrested for ‘working against ICE and its deportations.’ In a pointed response, Newsom humorously mocked the idea by suggesting a fictional ‘Trump Phone’ offer with the promo code ‘ARREST.’ Additionally, the governor cited President Trump’s social media post as an example of his alleged attempts to incite violence in Democratic-run states, which Newsom described as an effort to ‘militarize our cities.’
Newsom’s remarks also targeted House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., who had previously criticized the governor for focusing on ‘lawlessness and crime’ in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In response, Newsom highlighted the higher crime rate in Missouri, citing a 117% increase compared to California. The White House, in turn, has responded to these accusations, with White House spokesman Harrison Fields criticizing Newsom’s energy policies as a ‘Green New Scam’ that has led to energy shortages and high costs for Californians.
These developments underscore the deepening tensions between the current administration and state leaders over issues of land management, economic development, and environmental protection. As the legal and political battle continues, the implications for public lands and their protected status remain a focal point of national debate.