Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jan 27: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was “amazed” that California Governor Gavin Newsom was considering a run for the White House, launching a fresh attack on the Democratic leader amid escalating tensions between the federal government and the state.

“I’m amazed Gavin wants to run for office,” Trump told The California Post during an interview at the Oval Office, the New York Post reported.

Trump’s remarks came shortly after his administration filed a lawsuit against California over its sanctuary policies, accused the state of fraud, and moved to claw back federal funding. The President, who owns a golf course in California, made it clear that he is no admirer of the state’s governance under Newsom.

“People love the dream of California, but they hate what’s happening to them,” Trump was quoted as saying, adding that the state needed “proper leadership.”

Describing Newsom as “incompetent,” Trump argued that the governor’s record would become a major liability if he were to contest a presidential election. He specifically targeted California’s high-speed rail project — often referred to as the “train to nowhere” — which was envisioned to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Trump also said his personal relationship with Newsom had deteriorated sharply since his first term in office. “I used to get along with him, but now it’s sort of a hopeless situation. They’ve gone radical left. They’re crazy,” he said.

According to the report, Newsom currently enjoys 24 per cent support among Democratic voters, ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris at 21 per cent, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 11 per cent, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8 per cent.

Newsom, who is reportedly weighing a bid for the 2028 presidential election, was in Davos, Switzerland, at the same time as Trump for the World Economic Forum meetings.