Former Press Secretary Leavitt Tells Newsom and Bass to Call Trump
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass should reach out to President Donald Trump rather than refuse to work with his administration.
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has a pointed suggestion for California's Democratic leaders: pick up the phone and call the Trump administration. Her remarks targeted Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whom she criticized for what she described as an unwillingness to work with the federal government.
Leavitt's comments, published by the New York Post, framed the dispute as one of basic cooperation between state and local officials and the White House. In her blunt assessment, the two Democrats have chosen to keep their distance from the administration rather than engage on the issues that affect Californians. Her closing line, « Maybe they should call », captured the tone of her challenge.
The exchange highlights a long-running tension between California's Democratic leadership and the Trump administration, which has frequently clashed with the state over immigration enforcement, federal funding, and policy on public safety and the environment. Leavitt, who served as press secretary during Trump's second term before leaving the role, has been a prominent voice defending the administration's positions in public forums.
The source material does not detail specific policy disagreements or any direct response from Newsom or Bass to Leavitt's remarks. Readers should note that the criticism reflects the viewpoint of a former administration official and a partisan commentator, and that no new federal or state action accompanied the statement. Further developments, including any formal outreach between the offices, were not reported in the material reviewed.
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