We Will Defend Our Constitution: Gov. Newsom, Other Calif. Leaders, Respond to Trump’s Win
Tanu T. Henry | California Black Media
Early on Nov. 6 — shortly after 2 a.m. ET in Palm Beach, Fla.– President-elect Donald J. Trump declared victory in the 2024 General Election. He thanked supporters and pledged to “fix” the United States with the support of “the biggest, the broadest, the most unified coalition” the country has ever seen.
“They came from all quarters,” Trump said to applause. “Union, nonunion, African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Arab American, Muslim American, we had everybody, and it was beautiful.”
The next day, Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked Vice President Kamala Harris for a well-fought campaign and congratulated the President-elect, promising to work with him.
However, Newsom put a stake in the ground with a pledge he made as well: to defend the Constitution of the United States and stand up for policies and values that may be at odds with Trump’s politics but are supported by the majority of Californians.
“Though this is not the outcome we wanted, our fight for freedom and opportunity endures,” said Newsom. “California will seek to work with the incoming president — but let there be no mistake, we intend to stand with states across our nation to defend our Constitution and uphold the rule of law.”
Throughout his governorship, Newsom has introduced and rallied support for a number of progressive policies on a range of issues, from criminal justice reform, immigration, and trade to the environment, abortion, and racial justice. Championing those views has positioned Newsom as the protagonist of the political Left and a punching bag of the political Right, including Trump. The incoming POTUS frequently references California in his criticisms and invokes Newsom by name or a disparaging nickname (“Newscum”), setting the Governor up as his arch-nemesis in political diatribes.
On Nov. 8, Newsom issued a proclamation calling for a special convening of the California Legislature to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.”
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” wrote Newsom.
Like Newsom, a number of California elected officials congratulated Trump last week but moderated their well wishes with a commitment to fight against the policies that they disagree with. In anticipation, many have even begun to put forth counterproposals and organize their opposition to the incoming President and the policies he has promised to introduce to address various problems.
