A war between Trump and Newsom
President Donald Trump once again escalated his war with California Governor Gavin Newsom this week, lashing out at a housing plan tied to rebuilding after the Los Angeles wildfires. In a Tuesday message on Truth Social, Trump attacked Newsom’s action to appropriate $101 million for low-cost multifamily rental housing for families that lost homes in January’s devastating fires.
Trump, who in the past few years has repeatedly attacked Newsom, blamed the governor for plans to bring low-income housing into affluent enclaves like Pacific Palisades. Trump called such projects “unfair” to people living there and cited the political downfall of then-New York City Mayor John Lindsay, who in the 1970s pushed through housing.
What Newsom’s plan includes
In July, Newsom opened a $101 million pool of funding to support affordable multifamily rental housing in Los Angeles County. The funds, his office stated, are to help families who were displaced in the January wildfires that destroyed homes from Malibu to Altadena.
The initiative allows developers to apply in one streamlined process for eligibility in multiple housing programs at once, speeding up recovery work. Newsom framed the plan as a matter of conscience: “Thousands of families are still displaced, and we owe it to them to help,” he then said.
California housing officials agreed with that sentiment as well. Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Tomiquia Moss said the money will “galvanize the public-private response to the wildfires,” while State Housing Department Director Gustavo Velasquez commended the speed of the program in providing stable homes for those affected by the wildfires.
Trump’s Objections
Trump seized on the Pacific Palisades element, threatening that injecting low-cost housing into affluent neighborhoods would destroy communities already battered by disaster. “How unfair is that to the people who have suffered so much!” Trump tweeted. He doubled down by blaming Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for “failing” Californians.
His remarks also carried a political tone. Newsom, widely mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, has positioned himself as a sharp critic of Trump. Their battles have raged on issues from immigration policy to redistricting battles. This latest one shows how state actions can instantly turn into national political talking points.
Why this matters politically
Newsom’s growing prominence within the Democratic Party makes him a prime target for Trump and other Republicans. In polls, Newsom is becoming more popular with Democratic voters nationwide, solidifying his image as a leader willing to stand up to Trump head-on.
By framing the issue of housing in terms of justice to affluent communities, Trump is seemingly appealing to suburban voters, many of whom may be responsive to housing density or zoning. Doing so allows his critiques to permit him to still draw his picture of Democratic leaders confusing cities and disregarding middle- and upper-class concerns.
What Happens Next
Undeterred by Trump’s onslaught, Newsom’s strategy is proceeding. State officials say more than 1,800 permits have already been requested in rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles County, and 361 permits have been approved to date.
The dollars for housing are going to advance the building process and deliver long-term housing stability to thousands of families. Impervious to the political war between Trump and Newsom, the diligent effort of recovery continues.
For the remaining homeless survivors of the January fires, it’s less politics and more a matter of when—and how—they will finally get to stay in a decent home of their own.
What happens next
Undeterred by Trump’s onslaught, Newsom’s strategy is proceeding. State officials say more than 1,800 permits have already been requested in rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles County, and 361 permits have been approved to date.
The dollars for housing are going to advance the building process and deliver long-term housing stability to thousands of families. Impervious to the political war between Trump and Newsom, the diligent effort of recovery continues.
For the remaining homeless survivors of the January fires, it’s less politics and more a matter of when—and how—they will finally get to stay in a decent home of their own.
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