President-elect Donald Trump challenged California’s ban on voter ID requirements during a response to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) plans to “Trump-proof” the Golden State.
While expressing concern that “Newscum” is trying to “kill” California, Trump criticized the governor’s decision to sign a bill banning voter ID requirements in late September and declared he would work to reverse the policy as president. California is one of 13 states, as well as Washington, D.C., that do not require any identification to vote at the polls.
“[A]s an ‘AGENT’ for the United States of America on Voting & Elections, I will be DEMANDING THAT VOTER I.D., AND PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, ARE A NECESSARY PART AND COMPONENT OF THE VOTING PROCESS!” the president-elect said in a post to Truth Social on Friday.
Trump’s words come after Newsom called a special legislative session on Thursday to “protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration.”
Responding to Trump’s resounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Newsom set a defiant tone for Democrats, which colleagues, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), later echoed.
“Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked,” Newsom said in a statement to X.
California is ready to fight.
I just called an emergency special session to help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration.
Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate… pic.twitter.com/fIBPKsehot
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 7, 2024
However, Trump shot back that the California governor “is using the term ‘Trump-Proof’ as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to ‘Make California Great Again.’”
It isn’t the first time Newsom has invoked Trump’s wrath, particularly on voter ID concerns.
Arguing that he has seen gains in support from California Hispanics, Trump said during a recent campaign stop that he had an “honest” vote with voter ID recruitment in place, he could flip the Democratic stronghold red.
“I would do great in California,” he said during a Nevada rally, because “Hispanics like me.”
“I’m glad that they love me. They should love me, and I love them,” he continued. “But I would do great if we had an honest [vote]. I always say, if God came down just for one day to be the vote counter—In other words, I would win in California.”
WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT TRUMP IS PRESIDENT-ELECT
Exit polls from the 2024 presidential election confirm Trump has made deep inroads with Latino voters in California.
In Imperial Valley, which holds the highest percentage of Hispanic residents in California, Trump took 45% of the vote on Tuesday, up from 37% during the 2020 presidential election.
