Mike Johnson says Newsom should be "tarred and feathered"
Andrew Solender House Speaker Mike Johnson, wearing a gray suit and standing in front of a tree. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters outside the White House on June 9. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declined to say Tuesday whether he believes California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested — but he did say that the Democrat should be "tarred and feathered." Why it matters: President Trump and White House border czar Tom Homan have both floated the idea of arresting California officials — including Newsom — for allegedly impeding deportations. "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great," Trump said on Monday. "I like Gavin Newsom. He's a nice guy. But he's grossly incompetent."
Newsom has pushed back by daring Homan to arrest him, saying Sunday: "Come after me, arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy. I don't give a damn." What he's saying: Johnson at a House Republican leadership press conference on Tuesday morning said the question of whether Newsom should be arrested is "not my lane." "I'm not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested," the speaker continued. "But he ought to be tarred and feathered, I'll say that." "He's standing in the way of the administration of carrying out federal law. He is applauding the bad guys and standing in the way of the good guys. He is a participant, an accomplice," Johnson said.
Andrew Solender House Speaker Mike Johnson, wearing a gray suit and standing in front of a tree. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters outside the White House on June 9. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) declined to say Tuesday whether he believes California Gov. Gavin Newsom should be arrested — but he did say that the Democrat should be "tarred and feathered." Why it matters: President Trump and White House border czar Tom Homan have both floated the idea of arresting California officials — including Newsom — for allegedly impeding deportations. "I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great," Trump said on Monday. "I like Gavin Newsom. He's a nice guy. But he's grossly incompetent."
Newsom has pushed back by daring Homan to arrest him, saying Sunday: "Come after me, arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy. I don't give a damn." What he's saying: Johnson at a House Republican leadership press conference on Tuesday morning said the question of whether Newsom should be arrested is "not my lane." "I'm not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested," the speaker continued. "But he ought to be tarred and feathered, I'll say that." "He's standing in the way of the administration of carrying out federal law. He is applauding the bad guys and standing in the way of the good guys. He is a participant, an accomplice," Johnson said.
