California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom is claiming that President Donald Trump’s decision to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signals weakness inside the administration.
Newsom made the claim during a stop on his national book tour on Thursday.
“Donald Trump is in retreat,” Newsom said during an event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
“Today is a perfect example — the first firing of a high-profile cabinet member.”
Trump’s decision to remove Noem, a close ally who had overseen the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, sent shockwaves through Washington.
The move prompted immediate reaction from both allies and critics.
Noem Removal Sparks Political Reaction
Noem had been leading the Department of Homeland Security during President Trump’s second term and played a central role in implementing the administration’s mass deportation policies and immigration crackdown.
Her removal followed growing criticism of her performance from Democrats and some Republicans.
Trump has announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) will replace her as DHS secretary.
Shortly after the news broke, Newsom reacted on social media with a blunt message.
“BYE GIRL!” he wrote.
Newsom Targets Stephen Miller
During his remarks in New Hampshire, Newsom said the real driving force behind the administration’s immigration policies was not Noem but White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s longest-serving advisors.
“The dark heart of the administration is not Kristi Noem, it’s Stephen Miller,” Newsom said.
“It had Noem’s fingerprints all over it, but it was Stephen Miller’s handbook, and he needs to be next.”
Newsom referenced the Trump administration’s 2025 decision to deploy National Guard troops to California during protests tied to immigration enforcement.
Trump’s Critics Look Toward 2028
Newsom’s appearance in New Hampshire, the state that traditionally holds the first presidential primary, has fueled speculation that the California governor is positioning himself for a 2028 presidential campaign.
Newsom, a frequent critic of Trump, has been traveling the country promoting his memoir “Young Man in a Hurry.”
The tour has recently taken him to South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire, all states that play key roles in early Democratic presidential primaries.
At his New Hampshire stop, Newsom argued that Trump’s presence on the political stage energizes Democrat voters.
“Donald Trump is the leader of the get-out-the-vote for the Democratic Party,” Newsom said while discussing recent primary turnout.
Book Tour Draws Controversy
Newsom’s book tour has also generated criticism.
At a recent event in Los Angeles, the governor sparked backlash after comparing Israel to an “apartheid state.”
During his New Hampshire stop, Newsom said he was referencing a column by political commentator Tom Friedman discussing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the future of the West Bank.
“Tom used that word apartheid as it relates to the direction that Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu… is going,” Newsom said.
Newsom also criticized President Trump’s handling of the conflict involving Iran.
“I’m very angry about this war with all due respect,” he said.
“Not because I’m angry the supreme leader is dead, quite the contrary.”
“But I’m also mindful that you have a president who still is inarticulate and incapable of giving us the rationale of, why, why? Now, what’s the end game?”
Democrat Field Beginning to Take Shape
Newsom is one of several prominent Democrats making early visits to key primary states ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have also recently visited New Hampshire.
A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll conducted in February showed Buttigieg leading early Democrat primary speculation with 20% support.
Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) followed with 15% each, while Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and former Vice President Kamala Harris each received 10% support.
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