CALIFORNIA, August 16, 2025 – California Governor Gavin Newsom took to X today to criticize President Donald Trump, accusing him of hypocrisy for seeking a Nobel Peace Prize while deploying U.S. military forces domestically. In a post that has garnered thousands of views, Newsom shared a video clip from his recent interview with progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, highlighting Trump’s June deployment of Marines to Los Angeles as evidence of a “wartime president” mindset.
The post, which questions Trump’s peace credentials, reads: “Donald Trump is trying to get a Nobel Peace Prize? He sent the United States Marines into the United States of America. He’s bringing war to the American people.” The accompanying video features Newsom elaborating on his views, stating that Trump “doesn’t believe in” a united America and instead wages “war” on various groups, including women, voting rights, and Hispanics. He contrasts Trump’s international peace efforts—such as the recent Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin—with domestic actions, noting, “He put military in the streets, not in Baghdad… He sent United States Marines into the United States of America, in one of the bluest cities in this country, Los Angeles.”
The criticism stems from Trump’s June 2025 decision to mobilize approximately 700 active-duty Marines from Twentynine Palms, California, alongside 4,000 National Guard troops, to Los Angeles amid widespread protests over immigration enforcement and related unrest. The deployment, which aimed to protect federal property and assist law enforcement, was enacted over objections from Newsom and local Democratic leaders, who argued it violated the Posse Comitatus Act limiting military involvement in domestic affairs. The operation reportedly cost taxpayers over $800 million and drew accusations of overreach, with some labeling it an attempt to suppress protests rather than maintain order. California Republicans, however, defended the move, crediting it with restoring stability in a “criminal’s paradise” under Newsom’s governance.
Newsom’s remarks also target Trump’s ambitions for a Nobel Peace Prize, amplified by the president’s August 15 summit with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. The meeting, focused on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, ended without a concrete agreement, though Trump described the talks as “very productive.” Sources close to the administration have noted Trump’s longstanding grievance over not receiving the award, with the summit seen by some as a bid to bolster his legacy. Republicans praised Trump’s assertive posture, while Democrats decried the event as overly cozy with Putin, potentially undermining U.S. allies. Ukrainian officials reportedly viewed the summit as a “stab in the back,” with Trump allegedly pressuring Kyiv toward concessions.
Reactions on X were swift and polarized. Supporters of Trump dismissed Newsom’s post as “gaslighting,” pointing to ongoing crime and riots in California as justification for the military presence. One user wrote, “Gavin Newsom has more crime in California than in any other state… He’s made his state a criminals paradise.” Critics, however, echoed Newsom’s concerns, with posts highlighting the irony of Trump’s peace efforts abroad while militarizing U.S. cities at home. Another user noted, “Trump’s National Guard/Marines clown show in Los Angeles cost taxpayers $800 million.”
The Alaska summit has further fueled speculation about Trump’s Nobel aspirations, with experts suggesting it could impact geopolitics and his domestic agenda. As of now, no official nomination has been confirmed, but the event has divided lawmakers and international observers. Newsom’s post underscores ongoing tensions between state and federal leaders, particularly in Democratic strongholds like California, where Trump’s policies on immigration and law enforcement remain contentious.
This development comes amid broader debates over military use in domestic settings, with a federal judge set to rule on the legality of the Los Angeles deployment. As the 2026 midterms approach, such clashes could shape political narratives on both sides.