The White House sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom after he walked back his office’s description of an ICE officer-involved shooting as "STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM." The exchange intensified after Newsom told conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on a podcast that his staff’s tweet was unfair and that the characterization was not accurate.
Officials Trade Barbs
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox Digital,
"Newscum is an inauthentic slimeball who has no principles — he simply says whatever he thinks he needs to, in the moment, to get attention."
Jackson added that Newsom was willing to "smear ICE officers" to appeal to some voters and then distance himself from messaging when pressed.
Newsom’s Podcast Remarks
On the podcast, Ben Shapiro confronted Newsom about a message posted by the governor’s press office on X following the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. Shapiro asked whether labeling the incident as "state-sponsored terrorism" was appropriate. Newsom replied, "Yeah, I think that's fair," in agreeing that the tweet was an unfair characterization.
President Donald Trump held an address from the White House Dec. 17, 2025.
What Authorities Say
Federal officials say an ICE officer opened fire after authorities allege Renee Good used her vehicle as a weapon against the agent. In the days that followed, several Democratic voices criticized the federal response and some called the death a "murder," further fueling public debate and protests.
California’s Stance On ICE
Newsom emphasized that he has not supported efforts to "defund ICE" and noted California’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities, particularly through the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He said the state has transferred many people to ICE and that he vetoed legislation that would have restricted those transfers.
Reaction And Unrest
Newsom spokespeople pushed back against the White House criticism. In a statement to Fox Digital, a spokesperson said, "TRUMP IS TRYING TO CANCEL THE GOVERNOR - VERY WOKE!" and accused the president of creating a climate of fear. Newsom’s office also reiterated support for removing convicted violent offenders while criticizing what it described as federal "masked agents" conducting sweeps that may affect innocent people.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Protests in Minneapolis have escalated in the wake of Good’s death, including clashes with law enforcement following another ICE-involved shooting in the city.
Security Concerns
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed heated rhetoric from some Democrats for increasing threats against federal immigration officers. She cited instances of vandalism and hostile language directed at ICE agents. The Department of Homeland Security reported that assaults and violent incidents against ICE officers rose sharply: DHS said there were 238 assaults on ICE officers between Jan. 21 and Nov. 21, 2025, up from 19 in the same period in 2024, an increase DHS characterized as more than 1,150%.
Fox News Digital’s Lindsay Kornick contributed reporting to this story.
