California Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated his political feud with President Donald Trump by posting a viral TikTok video that uses Taylor Swift’s hit song “You Need to Calm Down” to mock the president’s social media behavior. The video, posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, came amid rising tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles.
The TikTok post featured screenshots of a recent Truth Social message where Trump referred to the governor as “Gavin Newscum.” Newsom paired these images with lyrics from Swift’s track, including the lines about saying something in the street versus tweeting it, alongside photos of the two politicians in conversation. The video concluded with Newsom captioning Trump as “America’s keyboard warrior.”
The timing of Newsom’s social media response coincided with significant federal action in Los Angeles, where Trump ordered the deployment of about 5,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines without the governor’s consent. The deployment came in response to what the administration described as unrest tied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that began on Friday, June 6.
California officials filed a lawsuit challenging the federal deployment, with Attorney General Rob Bonta stating at a press conference on Monday, June 9, that no invasion or rebellion was occurring. Bonta characterized the federalization of the California National Guard as an abuse of presidential authority under the law.
The dispute intensified when Trump endorsed the idea of arresting Newsom for obstructing immigration enforcement. During a press briefing on Monday, Trump indicated he would support such action if he were border czar Tom Homan, who had publicly suggested that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could face legal consequences for their opposition to federal operations.
Newsom strongly responded by characterizing Trump’s actions as an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. The governor also disputed White House claims about a phone conversation between the two leaders. White House spokesman Steven Cheung claimed the president had called Newsom to tell him to get his act together, but Newsom denied the call occurred, posting on the social media platform X that Trump was “a stone-cold liar.”
The Swift song chosen for the TikTok response carries additional significance beyond its lyrics. “You Need to Calm Down” was released during Pride Month in 2019 and appears on Swift’s “Lover” album, known for its pro-LGBTQ+ message. The song selection adds another layer to Newsom’s political messaging during the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the broader immigration enforcement actions have led to widespread protests across multiple cities. Demonstrations have spread from Los Angeles to Seattle, Austin, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., with marchers carrying signs against ICE operations and disrupting traffic through downtown areas and outside federal offices.
The conflict has also drawn attention to TikTok as a platform for political messaging. The social media platform has become increasingly important for political communication, with both officials and critics using it to reach younger audiences and shape public opinion on policy issues.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned lawmakers on Wednesday that the order Trump used to send the National Guard to Los Angeles could establish a precedent for similar deployments in other states. Hegseth indicated that if riots occurred elsewhere and law enforcement officers were threatened, the administration would have the capability to surge National Guard forces if necessary.
The protests in Los Angeles have resulted in numerous arrests and incidents of violence. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Emiliano Garduno-Galvez, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, for throwing a Molotov cocktail at agents during the riots. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Garduno-Galvez had previously been deported and maintained a criminal record in the United States, including charges of grand theft and driving under the influence.
The ongoing tensions between California state officials and the Trump administration represent a significant test of federal versus state authority in immigration enforcement.