Newsom Mocks Trump’s “I Quit” Move as President Withdraws National Guard Troops from Cities
California Governor Gavin Newsom seized the moment to mock President Donald Trump after the administration announced a major reversal on New Year's Eve. Following a stinging defeat
California Governor Gavin Newsom seized the moment to mock President Donald Trump after the administration announced a major reversal on New Year's Eve. Following a stinging defeat in the Supreme Court, President Trump declared he is pulling National Guard troops out of several major U.S. cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles.
This retreat marks a significant de-escalation in the President's controversial push to use federal troops for domestic policing, a strategy that faced immediate and intense legal challenges from state leaders.
Trump Announces Withdrawal on Truth Social
President Trump confirmed the withdrawal in a New Year's Eve post on Truth Social. While he acknowledged the troops would leave immediately, he framed the decision as a strategic pause rather than a defeat. He insisted that his administration would return to these cities if necessary.
"We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again," Trump wrote.
The announcement affects deployments in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. However, the President made no mention of Washington, D.C., where National Guard members remain on patrol.
Legal Defeats Force the Administration's Hand
Legal experts suggest the move serves as a direct response to a difficult week in federal court for the White House. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Illinois that the President lacks the authority to deploy National Guard troops into Chicago for law enforcement purposes without state consent.
On Tuesday, the administration further signaled its retreat by dropping its legal fight to maintain control over troops already stationed in Los Angeles. These deployments began earlier in the year as part of Trump's broader initiative to crack down on crime and illegal immigration in Democratic-led cities. Typically, state governors control the National Guard, and Trump's attempt to override this authority sparked immediate lawsuits.+2
Newsom Slams "Occult" Cabinet
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a fierce critic of the President, welcomed the news with a biting response on X. His office characterized the administration's sudden reversal as a face-saving measure.
"The political version of 'you can't fire me, I quit,'" Newsom’s office wrote.
Newsom expressed relief that the legal battles would cease, stating that dropping the appeals means "this illegal intimidation tactic will finally come to an end." In a particularly sharp jab, the Governor referred to the President's advisors as Trump's "occult" cabinet.
Troops Had Not Yet Patrolled
Despite the high-profile nature of the deployments, the situation on the ground remained largely static in some locations. Hundreds of troops sent to Chicago and Portland had not yet started patrolling the streets, as the court cases paused their operations before they could begin.
Critics consistently called the deployments unnecessary and accused Trump of attempting an authoritarian crackdown that endangered democracy. Conversely, Trump and his supporters continue to insist that federal intervention remains necessary to restore law and order in struggling urban centers.
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