Newsom Brutally Compared to Another Dem Governor Who Also Tried To Block The National Guard

Gavin Newsom’s refusal to cooperate with federal orders during the Los Angeles riots is drawing fierce comparisons to segregationist Gov. George Wallace’s infamous 1963 standoff. Vivek Ramaswamy says the California governor is following the same playbook—resisting lawful authority to serve political ambition.

Key Facts:

Vivek Ramaswamy compared California Gov. Gavin Newsom to George Wallace over Newsom’s resistance to federal enforcement during the LA riots.
Newsom opposed President Trump’s use of the Insurrection Act to deploy 700 Marines and federalize the California National Guard.
Federal Judge Charles Breyer rejected Newsom’s legal bid to block the military deployment.
Ramaswamy accused Newsom of blocking ICE in the same way Wallace blocked desegregation—both for political gain.
Actor Jon Voight also condemned Newsom, warning the rioters “would burn you down like they are burning the cars and the American flag.”

The Rest of The Story:

Vivek Ramaswamy, speaking on Jesse Watters Primetime, drew a sharp historical comparison between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.

Wallace gained infamy for standing in a university doorway to prevent desegregation, prompting President John F. Kennedy to send in the National Guard in 1963.

Ramaswamy argues Newsom is now standing in the way of federal immigration enforcement, refusing to support military deployments to stop lawlessness in Los Angeles.

I actually like @GavinNewsom as a person, but he won’t like this: there’s another Democrat Governor from U.S. history that he’s starting to resemble – George Wallace, the governor of Alabama who famously resisted the U.S. government’s efforts at desegregation. In 1963, JFK had to… pic.twitter.com/3eP5WhZv2r

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 11, 2025

Newsom fiercely criticized President Trump’s actions, claiming they resemble “authoritarian regimes.”

Despite his protests, a federal judge denied his request to block the military response.

Newsom continues to defend sanctuary policies and has vocally opposed ICE operations.

Some critics—including actor Jon Voight—accuse him of emboldening the rioters instead of restoring order.

To the Governor pic.twitter.com/aYC64gf21P

— Jon Voight (@jonvoight) June 11, 2025

Commentary:

Ramaswamy’s comparison may have caught some off guard, but he raises a valid point.

George Wallace’s defiance of federal law was one of the most blatant acts of rebellion in modern U.S. history.

He cloaked his actions in “states’ rights,” but the result was obstruction of justice and chaos.

Today, Newsom appears to be walking a similar path—just with a different cause.

Rather than confronting illegal segregation, Newsom is blocking federal deportation and law enforcement efforts in the middle of a riot.

It’s not about compassion. It’s about defiance.

Both governors positioned themselves as moral crusaders while stirring up division and eroding federal authority.

What’s even more concerning is the political motivation behind it.

Ramaswamy points out that both Wallace and Newsom had or have presidential ambitions.

Wallace leveraged racial division; Newsom is leveraging sanctuary defiance.

The common thread is a willingness to play chicken with federal power to win the spotlight.

This approach isn’t courageous—it’s reckless.

When a state governor actively obstructs lawful federal operations during a crisis, it becomes more than political grandstanding.

It veers into constitutional crisis territory.

Newsom’s rhetoric sounds lofty, but he’s standing in the way of the federal government trying to restore order.

California is on fire—literally and figuratively—and its governor is using the moment to push his national profile.

Instead of exhibiting leadership, he is self-promoting at the expense of safety and stability.

The American people—especially those watching from riot-torn communities—are not buying it.

They want peace. They want security.

And they’re right to expect their leaders to cooperate with federal authorities, not hinder them.

Newsom is on the wrong side of this battle—and he will lose it.

The Bottom Line:

Gavin Newsom’s resistance to federal intervention during violent unrest in Los Angeles has drawn a pointed comparison to segregationist George Wallace.

Both defied lawful federal authority for political gain—and both put ideology over the safety of their citizens.

Newsom may believe this fight helps his national ambitions, but history shows it’s a losing strategy.