California Gov. Gavin Newsom struck a defiant tone Thursday as questions continued to swirl around Department of Justice investigations involving both him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, daring President Donald Trump to pursue him directly if he believes wrongdoing occurred.
Speaking with MS NOW reporter Jacob Soboroff in Chicago, the Democratic governor portrayed the investigations as troubling and suggested they reflected tactics more commonly associated with governments outside the United States.
“This is stuff that happens in other countries, that’s all I’ll say,” Newsom said. “He wants to go after me? Go after me.”
The remarks represent the latest escalation in the long-running political feud between Newsom and Trump, two figures who have frequently clashed on issues ranging from immigration and governance to the direction of the country itself.
Earlier this week, Newsom announced on social media that both he and California First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom had become subjects of federal investigations. The governor characterized the probes as politically motivated and suggested they were designed to target him personally.
According to Newsom, federal investigators have interviewed members of his family, friends, and former employees while seeking records from his office in an effort to determine whether any crimes were committed.
However, a source familiar with the matter disputed the notion that the investigations originated with Trump. According to that source, the inquiries stemmed from whistleblower reports that were provided to the Department of Justice office in Sacramento.
Reports indicate that the investigation involving Jennifer Siebel Newsom is related to tax matters, while concerns involving the governor reportedly focus on the actions of current and former members of his staff.
Despite the scrutiny, Newsom has shown little sign of retreating from the political spotlight. Instead, he has used the controversy to sharpen his criticism of Trump and frame the investigations as part of a broader political battle.
“He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President,” Newsom wrote on X. “He hates that I consistently call him out. He is simply the most corrupt President in American history. We have nothing to hide.”
Although Newsom has not formally announced a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, he is widely viewed as a potential contender. His willingness to engage directly with Trump has fueled speculation that he sees the dispute as an opportunity to raise his national profile ahead of any future campaign.
The governor’s legal team has also moved aggressively. Earlier this week, Newsom’s top attorney sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting that the Department of Justice provide all records related to the ongoing investigations. The department has declined to comment publicly on the request.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Siebel Newsom largely avoided discussing the investigations while attending the opening of former President Barack Obama’s presidential library alongside her husband on Thursday.
When questioned about the matter, she instead focused her remarks on Obama and his legacy.
“I’m just so grateful for this inspiration and leadership,” she said. “We need more of that.”
Newsom also appeared to take aim at Trump while reflecting on the event and comparing it to the political climate surrounding the investigations.
“I think everybody feels that spirit and that pride that we’ve been missing,” he said. “We’ve been missing it because of the divisiveness. We’ve been missing it because we have people that, frankly, are unworthy of their positions.”
For now, the investigations remain ongoing, while the political battle surrounding them continues to intensify. As both sides trade accusations, the dispute underscores how legal scrutiny and political ambition can become deeply intertwined in an increasingly polarized national environment.
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